The APKWS is now capable of shooting down drones

I imagine that in that case (At least in an actual combat mission) the pods would be jettisoned afterwards.
It's my understanding that it's a lot easier to reload the launchers on the airframe than it is to hang a loaded launcher on the wing. You can grab a rocket and slide it into the launcher in seconds, connect the ignitors, and then put new frangible covers on.

There's videos from Vietnam of the helo revetments having a spare rack of launchers sandbagged in place that the ground crew was pulling rockets from to reload the helo while the rotors still turned. And then after the helo was gone they could break more rockets out to load the "ready racks" in the revetment.
 
LAU-131 7 shot rocket launcher drag index on an F-16, TER mounted:
9 when loaded
18 when empty
9 when empty with forward fairing.
Plus 24 for the weapon pylon and TER.

That's DI 120 with 4 empty launchers alone. So pretty draggy.
 
I might off the topic about this

so APKWS has Anti Drone Capable, I wonder if CRV-7-PG is able to do the same, I think they will be rival, if they opt alternative to buy CRV-7-PG?
 
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... I wonder if CRV-7-PG is able to do the same, I think they will be rival, if they opt alternative to buy CRV-7-PG?

The CRV7-PG with Kongsberg seeker was first offered almost 20 years ago. It doesn't seem to be listed under current C15 fixed-wing variants on offer.

Still, there would be nothing to stop BAE from putting their APKWS laser guidance kit onto the faster CRV7 rocket.
 

EDEX_2023_SAS_Technology_Aihmi_AHM-1X_925_001.jpg


Quite an interesting design and unexpected offspring of Longshot.
 
The DOD is sole-sourcing the development of new APKWS software from BAE. It appears this new software is intended to allow APKWS to integrate more easily with more platforms, including platforms with limited maneuverability.


to increase capabilities for Department of Defense (DoD) platforms in targeting, guidance, command and control while decreasing the need for the main platform to maneuver in order to establish a firing solution with the system.
development of a new software configuration for use with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guidance system allowing for increased capabilities with fire solutions with more limited main platform maneuvering, integration with DoD air platforms
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We now have a name for what has previously been referred to as an "infrared APKWS," which was confusing.

Air-to-Air Dual Mode All-Up Round (Dual-Mode A2A)

This AUR consists of a 70mm rocket, an APKWS mid-body guidance kit with FALCO-compatible True Pulse Logic software, a mid-body proximity fuze, and a nose-mounted LWIR seeker.

Hopefully we'll get a real name and designation soon.

"The activity requests authority to acquire component upgrades to the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System
(APKWS) AGR-20F rocket (FALCO), which is utilized against Group 3 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) threats.
The required upgrades include a nose mounted Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) seeker and mid-body warhead with dual
safe proximity fuze that will ensure minimal changes to the existing outer mold line and provide the necessary
solution for counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (cUAS) to meet the United States Air Force (USAF) and United
States Navy (USN) requirements. Systems engineering and technical analysis are required to ensure seamless
component integration and compatibility with APKWS architecture. The required upgrades enable the Air-to-Air
Dual Mode All-Up Round (Dual-Mode A2A) hand-off from the designator laser to the LWIR seeker to minimize
time the aircraft operator must keep the laser on the target. These Air-to-Air Dual Mode subcomponents are being
developed to be interchangeable with the existing APKWS interface developed by BAE Systems to increase
capabilities and ensure cost effectiveness."
 

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We now have a name for what has previously been referred to as an "infrared APKWS," which was confusing.

Air-to-Air Dual Mode All-Up Round (Dual-Mode A2A)

This AUR consists of a 70mm rocket, an APKWS mid-body guidance kit with FALCO-compatible True Pulse Logic software, a mid-body proximity fuze, and a nose-mounted LWIR seeker.

Hopefully we'll get a real name and designation soon.
I'd be surprised if it gets more than a new suffix letter. So, AGR-20G is my prediction.
 
I'd be surprised if it gets more than a new suffix letter. So, AGR-20G is my prediction.

It needs a new tri-services designation, period, as that designation "AGR-20" is anomalous given that for one thing it's a missile NOT a rocket so should be "AGM-20" but the problem with that is the -20 is already taken by the ADM-20 Quail. Based on your studies, @Andreas Parsch , what do you think its tri-services designation should be*?

*Aside from the "AGM" part.
 
It needs a new tri-services designation, period, as that designation "AGR-20" is anomalous given that for one thing it's a missile NOT a rocket so should be "AGM-20" but the problem with that is the -20 is already taken by the ADM-20 Quail. Based on your studies, @Andreas Parsch , what do you think its tri-services designation should be*?

*Aside from the "AGM" part.
A "correct" (as in "following the definitions laid out in the relevant tri-service instruction") designation for an air-to-air guided missile is obviously AIM-number. Numbers up to at least 190 are already allocated in the M-series for guided missiles, so a new one could be designated AIM-191A.

But in actual fact, an upgraded air-to-air APKWS derivative will most likely either get no MDS designation at all, or a new suffix letter in the AGR-20 series, i.e. AGR-20G.
 
A "correct" (as in "following the definitions laid out in the relevant tri-service instruction") designation for an air-to-air guided missile is obviously AIM-number. Numbers up to at least 190 are already allocated in the M-series for guided missiles, so a new one could be designated AIM-191A.

I stand corrected, I hadn't thought of that but AIM-191A does make sense.
 

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