The U.S. Department of Defense is working to develop and produce weapons to counter unmanned aerial systems. BAE Systemssigned a contract worth $145 million.
Defence BlogAccording to reports, the Department of Defense announced the contract last Wednesday (February 11). This contract supports the development and production of systems designed to counter unmanned aerial threats, a growing operational concern for U.S. and allied forces.
Work will be performed in Hudson, New Hampshire, United States, and the order period will be from February 12, 2026 to February 12, 2031. The contract also includes an initial delivery order worth $66 million. Work under the first delivery order is expected to be completed by July 31, 2027.
BAE SystemsIs Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System(APKWS), as it is popularly known, is a laser guidance kit tuned for unmanned aerial vehicle missions.
APKWS is designed to convert unguided rockets into laser-guided munitions for precision strikes against soft or lightly armored targets. This kit can be retrofitted to existing equipment, making it a cost-effective option for the U.S. military.
This contract was awarded as a single source procurement under Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 and identified only a single responsible source.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center oversees the acquisition and maintenance of airborne systems and manages the program at Eglin Air Force Base.
Photo: Thomas Barley. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
