BAE SYSTEMS 70mm Laser-Guided Rocket Achieves Two Direct Hits; Company Announces Prime Bid for Weapon System; Northrop Grumman Joins Team.

NASHUA, N.H. -- Two BAE Systems laser-guided rockets, developed for the Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System II (APKWS II) competition, recently completed successful flight tests at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. The 70mm rockets scored direct hits on laser-designated stationary and moving targets.

Meanwhile, BAE Systems announced it will bid as prime contractor for this fall's APKWS II competition and has partnered with Northrop Grumman Corp. as systems integrator.

"The BAE Systems/Northrop Grumman partnership will be well positioned to meet the Army's needs for a low-cost, low-collateral-damage precision rocket," said Frank Wilson, director of Missile Seekers for BAE Systems. "The back-to-back successful flights, part of our ongoing test program, demonstrate the readiness of our technology improvements and our commitment to fielding a highly capable system."

Rockets were fired from a ground-based M260 launcher during the Arizona flight tests. The first was a 1.5km shot, demonstrating short-range performance, and the second was a 3.3km shot at a moving target. Both made direct hits.

BAE Systems developed a Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS(TM)) for the original APKWS effort, "and we have continued to improve and mature the seeker to achieve a low-risk, cost-effective solution that provides the best value to the war fighter," Wilson said.

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, combat vehicles, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems.