APKWS-II Missile

Manufacturer: BAE Systems
Category: Missiles & Precision Weapons
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Guidance System Semi-active laser homing (DASALS); dual-mode IR variants available
Maximum Speed ~1,000 m/s (Mach ~2.9)
Launch Compatibility Rotary/fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, potential drone integration
Warhead Technology High-explosive (M151/Mk152), penetrating, illumination options (10 lb class)

Full Specifications

1. General Information

Name / Designation	APKWS-II (AGR-19/AGR-20/AGR-21 variants)
Type / Role	Precision-guided 2.75-inch rocket, air-to-ground/anti-personnel/light armor/counter-UAS
Country of Origin	United States
Manufacturer	BAE Systems
Service Entry / Year Introduced	2012
Operational Status	Active

2. Performance & Range

Range	1.1–5 km (rotary-wing); 2–11+ km (fixed-wing)
Speed	~Mach 2.9 (max)
Ceiling / Altitude Limit	Platform-dependent, suitable for low-to-medium altitude
Accuracy (CEP)	<1 meter
Warhead Type	High Explosive, Fragmentation, Penetrating

3. Guidance & Targeting

Guidance System	Semi-active laser homing (primary); dual-mode with IR
Targeting Mode	Laser designation (semi-active)
Launch Platform Compatibility	Helicopters (AH-64, UH-1Y, MH-60), Fixed-wing (A-10, F-16, AV-8B)
Seeker Type	Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS)

4. Physical Characteristics

Length	~1.88 m (full round)
Diameter	70 mm (2.75 in)
Wingspan	~24.3 cm (9.55 in)
Launch Weight	~15 kg (32–35 lb)
Propulsion	Solid-fuel rocket (Mk66 Mod 4)

5. Warhead & Payload

Warhead Weight	~4–5 kg (10 lb class HE)
Explosive Type	High Explosive / Fragmentation / Penetrator
Detonation Mechanism	Impact / Proximity
Payload Options	HE, Armor-piercing, Illumination, White Phosphorus

6. Operational Use & Capabilities

Operational Range Type	Short to Medium
Deployment Platform	Air (primary)
Target Types	Light vehicles, personnel, soft targets, small UAVs
Combat Proven	Yes
Users / Operators	United States (primary), select allies

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

7.8

Technology 8 / 10
Performance 8 / 10
Maintenance Efficiency 8 / 10
Range & Endurance 7 / 10

PROS

Highly cost-effective compared to traditional precision missiles, enabling higher sortie munitions loads.
Exceptional accuracy with low collateral damage, ideal for urban or close-support environments.
Leverages existing Hydra 70 inventory for logistics simplicity and rapid deployment.
Compatible with a wide array of rotary- and fixed-wing platforms, including drones.
Combat-proven with rapid integration across U.S. services and growing counter-UAS utility.

CONS

Requires line-of-sight laser designation, limiting use in obscured or high-threat environments.
Shorter range than larger missiles like Hellfire, constraining standoff capability.
Subsonic-to-supersonic speed profile makes it less effective against fast-maneuvering high-altitude targets.
Dependent on clear weather conditions for optimal laser performance.
Warhead yield is smaller, reducing effectiveness against heavily armored or hardened targets.

APKWS-II Laser-Guided Rocket: Precision Strike System

The APKWS-II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II) represents a cost-effective evolution in tactical air-to-ground weaponry. By adding a mid-body laser guidance kit to existing unguided Hydra 70 2.75-inch rockets, it transforms inexpensive rockets into precision-guided munitions (PGMs) capable of engaging soft and lightly armored targets with minimal collateral damage. This system fills the critical capability gap between unguided rockets and more expensive missiles like the AGM-114 Hellfire, offering U.S. and allied forces a flexible, high-volume precision strike option suitable for close air support, counter-insurgency, and emerging counter-UAS roles.

Manufacturer

BAE Systems serves as the primary contractor for the APKWS-II. Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and other services, the system entered production around 2011, with initial operational capability achieved in 2012 on Marine Corps helicopters. It has since been integrated across multiple platforms.

Speed and Range

The APKWS-II achieves a maximum speed of approximately 1,000 m/s (Mach 2.9). Effective range varies by launch platform: 1.1–5 km from rotary-wing aircraft and up to 2–11+ km from fixed-wing platforms, with some reports exceeding 12 km under optimal conditions. Its semi-active laser homing provides high accuracy, often with a CEP under 1 meter.

Cost/Price

The guidance kit is priced affordably, typically in the $15,000–$28,000 range per unit (with full rounds adding several thousand more), making it roughly one-third the cost of comparable laser-guided munitions while leveraging legacy rocket motors and warheads.

The APKWS-II uses a Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS) that threads between the warhead and Mk66 Mod 4 rocket motor. It maintains compatibility with standard 2.75-inch launchers and supports various warheads, including high-explosive, armor-penetrating, and illumination types. Combat-proven in operations like Enduring Freedom, it equips platforms such as the AH-64 Apache, MH-60 helicopters, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16, and AV-8B Harrier. Recent dual-mode variants incorporating infrared seekers enhance multi-target engagement, particularly against drone swarms. Its low weight (around 15 kg) allows platforms to carry significantly more rounds than heavier missiles.

Reviews

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