US approves sale of guided rocket kits to UK
APKWS-II is approved for use with the AH-64 attack helicopter. (Image: BAE Systems)
The US has approved the sale to the UK of APKWS-II guided rocket kits.
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to UK of up to 768 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System-IIs at an estimated cost of $31.2 million.
The APKWS-IIs acquired will be the All Up Round (AUR)Single Variant. Also included are support equipment, spare parts, technical documentation, transportation, government and contractor support services and other related elements of logistical and programme support.
The sale will improve the UK’s capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring its aviation forces’ interoperability with US and other allied forces as well as its ability to contribute to missions of mutual interest.
Related Articles
BAE Systems tests APKWS guided rocket kit with new warhead option
Live-fire trials clear way for Spike NLOS missile integration with latest Apache helicopter
The principal contractor will be BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
While no platforms were mentioned in the State Department’s announcement, APKWS-II is approved for integration on the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters operated by the British Army.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad]()
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
-
![AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX]()
AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX
Two new uncrewed aircraft concepts target very different US military requirements, from massed long-range strike to autonomous logistics. Shephard spoke with executives from Swarm Aero, Textron Aviation and Merlin Labs at this year's AFA Air, Space and Cyber conference to learn more about their capabilities.
-
![US Navy moves EA-18G Growler Block II electronic-attack upgrade into full-rate production]()
US Navy moves EA-18G Growler Block II electronic-attack upgrade into full-rate production
A US$184.25 million contract for Next Generation Electronic Attack Units advances the Growler’s modernisation as the US Navy confronts ageing systems, parts shortages and obsolescence.
-
![Could the next UAS market boom take place beyond the battlefield?]()
Could the next UAS market boom take place beyond the battlefield?
While the headlines remain dominated by the use of drones for combat operations in Ukraine and other conflicts, there are emerging use cases where the technology could usefully feed back into areas and missions outside the war zone.
