Following Final Evaluation, Laser-Guided Rockets Deployed For Use In Afghanistan

The Marine Corps has approved the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) for deployment in Afghanistan, reports BAE Systems, which builds the weapon.

The APKWS is a semi-active laser guidance kit for the Hydra 70-mm rocket. It has achieved a success rate of 94 percent over more than 100 firings since 2007, according to a BAE release.

The weapon system concluded initial operational test and evaluation, covering 35 firings, in January. It was then cleared for fielding,...