APKWS rocket used by the Armed Forces want to make a version against drones "shot-guns"

It is briefly reported that to improve the efficiency of APKWS against UAVs created a new non -contact detonator, which is currently undergoing a test. In addition, work on the creation of APKWS with a semi -active laser guidance is ongoing. The authors of the publication point out that the avalanche development of APKWS from Bae Systems actively took its place in the range of near action SPR.

They are under the wing of the fighters due to the small dimensions and low cost of $ 20-30 thousand per unit. This is an order of magnitude less than the cost of traditional anti -aircraft missiles.

Ukrainian Defense Express analysts have suggested that APKWS was developed from the outset as a means of destroying land goals, and the whole essence in adding a new block with a guide and control system that is interconnected with an existing engine and combat part of the 70-mm of an uncontrollable Hydra jet. "That is, during the firing of the air target, detonation is possible only with direct contact with its body," - the publication reads.

Semi -active laser guidance makes it possible to ensure accuracy, but even a minor miss is critical: APKWS simply flies past and self -cleared, usually in 15 seconds of flight. Adding the possibility of blasting, along with the target, completely offset this drawback. It is unknown how the mechanism of the remote undermining in APKWS is implemented.

Among the traditional versions are laser detectors, a command undermining and an algorithm, which is undermined by the rocket immediately after the head loss of the target, which was as close as possible. In the case of APKWS, the decision should be cheap and not require the modernization of carriers. When designing Bae Systems resorted to the original solution to save the combat part and the Hydra engine.

Traditionally, a semi -active laser head is located in the nasal of the rocket, but this required the processing of combat units. Therefore, the developers have placed the receivers of the reflected laser signal on the steering surfaces. According to journalists, the appearance of APKWS with infrared guidance is interesting and in the way that opens the way to the creation of MAS on its base. In the end, the rocket itself weighs 15.