01 March 2023

Avalon 2023: BAE Australia designing new guided munition for UCAVs, helos

by Akhil Kadidal

BAE Systems Australia's in-development Razer precision-guided munition is being designed for deployment from unmanned combat aerial vehicles and helicopters. (BAE Systems)

BAE Systems Australia has announced that it is designing and developing a new air-launched guided munition called the Razer.

The company said in the announcement on 28 February that the Razer is being conceived as a “low-cost air-launched precision-guided munition that is designed to transform a 40–50 kg standard non-guided munition into a precision air-launched weapon at low cost”.

According to BAE Systems Australia, the Razer system consists of a wing/body kit and tail unit. The kit also comprises a powered Global Positioning System/inertial navigation system (GPS/INS). The company said that the Razer is being designed to be carried by unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) and combat helicopters.

The low-cost precision-guided munition (LCPGM) is being designed for operation in air and maritime environments, the company said in a statement.

The announcement of the Razer was made following the unveiling of the company's Strix unmanned aircraft system (UAS) during Avalon 2023 in Australia. The air show is being held from 28 February to 5 March.

Janes has reported that the Strix system is being designed for multirole and multidomain operations. The Strix UCAV has a maximum payload-carrying capacity of 200 kg, according to BAE Systems Australia. It can carry a 160 kg payload over a distance of 800 km.

The Razer will almost certainly be integrated with the Strix. “Razer can meet urgent local and overseas demand for low-cost sovereign munition solutions that could be deployed from the air,” said BAE Systems Australia CEO Ben Hudson.

He added that the guided munition “could deliver a powerful and affordable battlefield strike capability”.

BAE Systems Australia has announced that it is designing and developing a new air-launched guided mu...

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