U.S. Air Force (USAF) and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems teamed up to conduct flight tests of an Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) using a USAF MQ-9A Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. These tests were conducted at the Nevada Test and Training Range.

The testing involved multiple shot profile variations, likely involving both air to ground and air to air targeting using APKWS system. This system employs a laser guidance kit to transform 70 mm unguided rocket into a precision strike weapon, capable of targeting both moving and stationary targets.

Technical specifications

They key element of the guidance kit is the Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS) optics located on all four guidance wings, which provide 40 degree instantaneous field of view. Once the rocket is fired, the APKWS kit’s wings deploy and the optics lock on to designated target, guiding the rocket towards it.

The guidance system enables a min-max targeting range of 2-14 km, has an accuracy (measured in single shot hit probability) of 80%, and can be launched from a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet. It can be integrated to both fixed and rotary wing air frames which requires no modification to the firing platform or the fire control system.

Counter drone role

The APKWS laser-guidance kit was first put into production in 2008. It proved to be one of the most accurate, cost effective, and easy to implement system for converting unguided rockets into laser-guided rockets. This system has also proven itself in counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) roles. It is capable in air-to-air targeting of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as well as low-flying cruise missiles.

These kits are manufactured by BAE Systems at Hudson, New Hampshire and at Austin, Texas. The current manufacturing capacity is a minimum of 25,000 units per year, which can be surged as the manufacturer is continuing to expand production.

MQ-9A Integration

The MQ-9A Reaper is a MALE (medium-altitude, long-endurance) UAV. The Block 5 variant has a minimum flight endurance of 26 hours. It has an external payload capacity of 1,701 kg and has 7 external hard points for weapon or sensor integration.

The sensor mix include electro-optical/infrared cameras, Lynx multi-mode Radar, maritime surveillance radar, electronic support measures (ESM), communications relay, and laser designators. The Reaper is capable of beyond line of sight surveillance and strike operations over land as well as sea. These tests demonstrates that a drone can also be adapted for a counter drone and air defense roles.