APKWS II to receive guidance section software update

US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on 26 May announced that it intends to award BAE Systems Electronic Systems (BAE) a sole-source delivery order to an existing Basic Ordering Agreement to perform a software update to version 4.70 for the WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) 70 mm/2.75 inch rocket guidance section.

According to the notification, “as part of the software update effort, the contractor shall perform Pre and Post software update inspections, and perform agreed to repairs on all Guidance Sections and containers. This contract will be utilized by the United States Army (USA), the United States Navy/United States Marine Corps (USN/USMC), and the United States Air Force (USAF)”. No contract value was disclosed with the announcement.

In May 2019 NAVAIR awarded BAE a USD10.9 million contract to upgrade the guidance section of the APKWS II. That contract, which is expected to be completed in April 2021, provides for BAE “to combine the Rotary Wing APKWS II and the Fixed Wing [FW] APKWS II Guidance Sections into one hardware and software solution”.

“Through this upgrade, we will have one variant of the product, replacing separate versions for rotary-wing and fixed-wing platforms. By moving to this upgrade, we will provide reduced logistics for our customers who are currently tracking more than one variant,” a BAE Systems spokesperson told Janes .