U.S. Marine AH-1W and UH-1Y units fielded APKWS II in Afghanistan in 2012, and BAE later said more than 100 APKWS rockets had been fired there in action.
Role detailsAPKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets
- 2.75 inch guided rockets
- 70 mm guided rockets
- 2.75-inch laser-guided rockets
- 70 mm laser-guided rockets
- Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System
- Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II
- APKWS
- APKWS II
- APKWS-GS
- APKWS laser-guidance kit
- AGR-20
- AGR-20A
- AGR-20F
- AGR-20 FALCO
- Fixed Wing, Air-Launched, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance
- WGU-59/B
- WGU-59B
- WGU-59B/B
- WGU-59A/B
- APKWS-II All-Up-Round
APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets are BAE Systems laser-guidance-kit munitions that convert Hydra 70 / 2.75-inch aerial rockets into precision-guided weapons. The family includes WGU-59/B guidance sections, single-variant all-up rounds, and later AGR-20/FALCO counter-UAS adaptations documented by U.S. Navy, Air Force, manufacturer, and Ukraine-security-assistance sources on helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and mounted launch systems.
Role in Conflicts
The United States funded APKWS and laser-guided rocket systems for Ukraine from 2022, and NAVAIR later documented VAMPIRE counter-UAS launchers with four-shot APKWS launchers being delivered to Ukraine for wartime air-defense use.
Role detailsU.S. fighter aircraft used AGR-20 FALCO/APKWS laser-guided 2.75-inch rockets in the air-to-air role against Iran-backed Houthi one-way attack drones.
Carrier Platforms
Official and manufacturer sources document APKWS-class 2.75-inch guided rockets on helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and mounted launch systems. The links below are limited to cataloged systems with direct source support.
| Carrier or launcher | Role | Source-backed note |
|---|---|---|
![]() | Armed reconnaissance aircraft | Northrop Grumman says the AC-208 Eliminator can engage targets with 2.75-inch guided rockets. |
![]() | Attack helicopter | NAVAIR describes APKWS II as reaching initial operational capability on AH-1W and UH-1Y helicopters in 2012. |
![]() | Attack helicopter | Bell lists AH-1Z performance assumptions with 70 mm rockets that may be unguided or APKWS guided. |
![]() | Attack helicopter | BAE Systems reported APKWS qualification firings from an AH-64D Apache, and NAVAIR lists AH-64 among APKWS platforms. |
![]() | Maritime helicopter | Navy reporting and DOT&E material document MH-60R integration with APKWS II and the Digital Rocket Launcher. |
![]() | Multirole fighter | BAE Systems says the U.S. Air Force fielded APKWS for F-16 and A-10 aircraft under an urgent operational need. |
![]() | Carrier-capable strike fighter | NAVAIR reported Marine Corps F/A-18 squadrons flying operational APKWS flights with the 2.75-inch rocket. |
![]() | Counter-UAS launcher system | L3Harris describes VAMPIRE as a portable kit for launching APKWS or other laser-guided munitions from cargo-bed vehicles. |
Sources: Northrop Grumman Special Mission Aircraft; Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS); Bell AH-1Z Viper; Laser-Guided Rocket Successfully Qualified to Support Apache Crews; MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter FY15 DOT&E; Swamp Foxes Conduct First Swing Loaded Operational Flight; U.S. Air Force Deploys APKWS Laser-Guided Rockets on F-16s; Marines complete first F/A-18, APKWS operational flights; VAMPIRE
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- United States
- Built by
- BAE Systems
- Type
- Guided rocket munition family
- Service note
- Fielded from 2011
- Produced
- 2011-present
Specifications
- Caliber
- 2.75 inches (70 mm)
- Guidance
- Semi-active laser guidance using an APKWS-II mid-body guidance section
- Length
- 73.77 inches all-up round
- Weight
- 32.6 pounds all-up round
- Guidance section
- 18.5 inches long and 9.8 pounds
- Wingspan
- 9.55 inches
- Propulsion
- Mk66 Mod 4 rocket motor
- Fixed-wing range
- 1.2 to 6.8 miles reported for WGU-59 APKWS II
- Speed
- Maximum 1,000 meters per second
- Warhead
- M151 or Mk 152 10-pound high-explosive warhead
- Platforms
- Helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, UAVs, and some mounted or maritime launch applications
Variants
The catalog page treats APKWS II, WGU-59/B, WGU-59A/B, and AGR-20/FALCO as current-page designations within BAE Systems' guidance-kit family. Other named 70 mm laser-guided rockets are adjacent families summarized in the related-family section.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| APKWS II | BAE Systems guidance-kit family | NAVAIR describes APKWS II as a laser-guidance conversion of an unguided Hydra 2.75-inch rocket, with the guidance section fitted between the warhead and Mk66 Mod 4 rocket motor. |
| WGU-59/B guidance section | APKWS II guidance section | NAVAIR identifies APKWS II (WGU-59/B) as the semi-active laser guidance section that integrates with current 2.75-inch rocket motors and warheads. |
| WGU-59A/B APKWS-II AUR | Single Variant all-up round designation | The Federal Register describes WGU-59/B rotary-wing and WGU-59A/B single-variant APKWS-II all-up rounds as Hydra 2.75-inch rocket conversions using an APKWS-II guidance section, Mk66 Mod 4 motor, and Mk 151 or Mk 152 warhead. |
| AGR-20 FALCO | Fixed-wing counter-UAS adaptation | Air & Space Forces describes AGR-20 FALCO as a fixed-wing, air-launched APKWS adaptation for small airborne targets, while Red Sea reporting documents U.S. fighter use of AGR-20 FALCO/APKWS against Houthi drones. Sources: WGU-59 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II, Laser-Guided Rockets Shown Shooting Down Houthi Drones For First Time |
Carrier Aircraft
Official and manufacturer sources document APKWS-class 2.75-inch guided rockets on attack helicopters, maritime helicopters, light attack aircraft, and fixed-wing fighters.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
![]() | Armed reconnaissance aircraft | Northrop Grumman says the AC-208 Eliminator can engage targets with 2.75-inch guided rockets as part of its reconnaissance and ground-attack loadout. |
![]() | Close air support attack aircraft | The A-10 fired the fixed-wing APKWS II rocket in Air Force tests, and NAVAIR later listed APKWS II as fielded on the A-10. Sources: A-10 fires its first laser-guided rocket, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), U.S. Air Force Deploys APKWS Laser-Guided Rockets on F-16s |
![]() | Attack helicopter | NAVAIR describes APKWS II as a guided conversion of the Hydra 2.75-inch rocket and says initial operational capability was declared on AH-1W and UH-1Y helicopters in 2012. Sources: Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), Marine helicopters deploy with laser-guided rocket |
![]() | Attack helicopter | Bell lists AH-1Z performance assumptions with 70 mm rockets that may be unguided or APKWS guided. Sources: Bell AH-1Z Viper |
![]() | Attack helicopter | BAE Systems reported APKWS qualification firings from an AH-64D Apache, and NAVAIR lists AH-64 among APKWS platforms. Sources: Laser-Guided Rocket Successfully Qualified to Support Apache Crews, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) |
![]() | Strike aircraft | Air Tractor says the AT-802U can be mounted with precision-guided 2.75-inch rockets, and L3Harris lists 70mm rockets including APKWS on Sky Warden. Sources: AT-802U at SOFIC 2019 Goes Beyond "Light Attack", SKY WARDEN |
![]() | Light attack and armed reconnaissance aircraft | Textron Aviation Defense lists APKWS, TALON, and GATR 2.75-inch laser-guided rockets among the AT-6 Wolverine's supported loads. Sources: AT-6 Wolverine and Beechcraft T-6 Texan II | Textron Aviation Defense |
![]() | Multirole fighter | BAE Systems says the U.S. Air Force fielded APKWS for F-16 and A-10 aircraft under an urgent operational need, and NAVAIR lists F-16 among APKWS platforms. Sources: U.S. Air Force Deploys APKWS Laser-Guided Rockets on F-16s, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) |
![]() | Carrier-capable strike fighter | NAVAIR reported Marine Corps F/A-18 squadrons flying operational APKWS flights with the highly accurate 2.75-inch rocket. Sources: Marines complete first F/A-18, APKWS operational flights |
![]() | Maritime helicopter | DOT&E assessed an MH-60R equipped with the Digital Rocket Launcher and APKWS II rockets, while Navy reporting identifies APKWS II integration alongside Hellfire missiles. Sources: MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter FY15 DOT&E, Swamp Foxes Conduct First Swing Loaded Operational Flight |
Mounted Launch Systems
The same guided-rocket family also appears on cataloged ground or palletized launch systems where sources identify APKWS or laser-guided 2.75-inch rockets as the launched munition.
| Launcher | Launcher type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
![]() | Counter-UAS launcher system | L3Harris describes VAMPIRE as a portable kit for launching APKWS or other laser-guided munitions from cargo-bed vehicles, and its Ukraine contract releases identify APKWS as the selected rocket for Ukrainian VAMPIRE counter-UAS systems. Sources: VAMPIRE, L3Harris Receives VAMPIRE Contract for Ukrainian Security Defense Efforts, L3Harris VAMPIRE System Helps U.S. Navy Fill Ukraine's Counter UAS Gap |
Related 70 mm Guided Rockets
Several other 2.75-inch / 70 mm laser-guided rocket families share launcher or rocket-body concepts with APKWS but are separate products or guidance kits rather than WGU-59 aliases.
| Family | Relationship | Source-backed distinction |
|---|---|---|
| TALON LGR | Separate guidance kit | Textron and Raytheon material identify TALON separately from APKWS in 2.75-inch laser-guided rocket testing and production context. |
![]() | Separate 70 mm rocket | Elbit identifies GATR as a 70 mm guided rocket, and Textron lists GATR separately from APKWS and TALON for AT-6 stores. |
![]() | Separate guidance kit | Lockheed Martin unveiled DAGR as a semi-active laser guidance kit for 2.75-inch / 70 mm Hydra-70 and CRV-7 rockets, distinct from BAE Systems APKWS. |
![]() | Separate 70 mm rocket | Thales Belgium describes FZ275 LGR as a semi-active laser-guided 2.75-inch / 70 mm rocket compatible with standard FZ launchers. |
Sources: Beechcraft AT-6 Becomes First Fixed-Wing Aircraft to Employ Laser Guided Rockets; Raytheon begins full rate production on TALON Laser Guided Rocket; GATR | Elbit Systems; AT-6 Wolverine and Beechcraft T-6 Texan II | Textron Aviation Defense; Lockheed Martin Unveils New Guidance Kit for 2.75-Inch/70mm Rockets; Laser guided rocket FZ275 LGR
Timeline
APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets Key Events
Production begins
NAVAIR records APKWS II production beginning in 2011 after the program matured into a deployable laser-guidance-kit conversion for 2.75-inch rockets.
Sources: Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)
Marine helicopter IOC
Initial operational capability was declared on AH-1W and UH-1Y helicopters, and NAVAIR separately reported Afghanistan deployment with Marine helicopter units.
Sources: Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), Marine helicopters deploy with laser-guided rocket
Fixed-wing fielding expands
NAVAIR lists AV-8B, F-16, and A-10 fielding in 2016, extending APKWS II beyond the original Marine rotary-wing launch platforms.
Sources: Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)
VAMPIRE delivery for Ukraine
NAVAIR described VAMPIRE as a truck-mounted counter-UAS launcher with four-shot APKWS launchers and said 14 systems were being delivered to Ukraine's ground forces.
Sources: Navy to complete rapid delivery of new counter-UAS system to Ukraine
Media
APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets Videos
APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets Images
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