BAE to demostrate APKWS on fixed-wing aircraft

Oct 23, 2012 by Dave Majumdar – FG

Washington DC - BAE Systems getting set to demonstrate its advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) on fixed-wing tactical fighter platforms.

"We doing a modification to it now so that it can be used on fixed-wing aircraft," says John Watkins, Raytheon's director of precision guidance solutions. The company will be demonstrating the weapon as part of the Pentagon Joint Concepts Technology Demonstrations.

For use on fixed-wing aircraft, the rocket's controls fin extension system had to be modified.

Development is complete, Watkins says. Testing will start next year-it could run six months long.

If the Pentagon deems the weapons to have military value, the programme could become operational on the Fairchild Republic A-10, Lockheed Martin F-16, Boeing AV-8B and F/A-18.