BAE Systems and Raytheon have conducted flight tests of laser-guided 70mm (2.75in) rockets in preparation for a competition to retrofit tens of thousands of unguided rockets with low-cost precision guidance. The ground-launched tests were conducted under the US Army's Low Cost Precision Kill (LCPK) technology demonstration.
LCPK is a precursor to the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), for which a request for proposals is expected shortly, with award of a two-year development contract scheduled by February. The US Army plans to acquire between 50,000 and 100,000 guidance kits, with a target price, including rocket, of under $10,000.
APKWS fills the gap between the Hydra-70 unguided rocket and the Hellfire laser-guided missile. The former has poor accuracy, seldom better than 100m, while BAE and Raytheon demonstrated an accuracy of better than 1m at 3.5-5.5km range. This allows the rocket to be used for precision attacks against soft targets. "We believe this could become the preferred munition for use against anything other than a tank," says David Ferrell, missile electronics business development, BAE Systems.
Both companies use low-cost, solid-state, semi-active laser seekers, but their designs are dramatically different. BAE installs the guidance section between the warhead and rocket motor, with the seeker optics mounted on the leading-edges of the pop-out canards. "You can put any warhead in front of the electronics. If you put the seeker in front, it affects the warhead," Ferrell says.
Raytheon's guidance section is mounted ahead of the warhead, which it says is a lower risk design that allows the rocket to lock on to the laser-designated target before launch, says LCPK programme manager Rene Lemonnier.
Source: Flight International