Kremlin propagandists are concerned that the United States is planning to deliver more than several thousand high-precision APKWS missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (the USA has produced 50,000 since 2012). These are aviation 70-mm guided missiles with a range of up to 11 km.

It is not known how these missiles will be launched at targets in Russia, but it is estimated that ground-based launchers (PU) can be used and guided by drones. And these missiles will pose a significant threat with a limited range of mass destruction. Although they add that they do not know the effectiveness of APKWS.

The Ukrainian press is writing something more specific – it reported that the US Department of Defense will purchase APKWS for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for $ 22.6 million. They can be launched from the air and ground mobile PU. They have a semi-active laser guidance system, were included in the armament of helicopters and aircraft, and were replaced by 70-mm unguided missiles (NKR) Hydra 70.

APKWS missiles fill the gap between the NKR Hydra 70 and the ATGM Hellfire, enabling to neutralize many targets on the battlefield with high accuracy. APKWS is compatible with all NKR Hydra 70 PUs and can be used by all aircraft and helicopters capable of carrying these NKRs.

It is unknown which PU ZSU will launch APKWS. Presumably, the cars will have mobile PU or armored vehicles modified for these missions.

APKWS is an unmanned aerial vehicle Hydra 70, which in the modernization process received an inertial control unit, laser sensors and a module with rotating blades for aiming. At the same time, the NKR Hydra 70 is disassembled into 2 parts (combat (warhead) and rocket engine), between which a guide compartment 10 cm long is screwed with an inertial control unit, blades and sensors.

The WGU-59 / B APKWS guided missile was developed by the British company BAE Systems. Originally designed for helicopters OH-58, AH-64D / E and UH-1Y, they are also used from helicopters AH-1W / Z, AH-1F, AH-6M, Tiger, UH-60L / W, MH-. 60S/R, Bell 407AH. Then APKWS II was created for F-16, F-18, A-10, AV-8B, OV-10, A-29 and A-208 aircraft.

The weight and cost of APKWS guided missiles are 29% and 15% of the weight and cost of Hellfire ATGMs. But APKWS is not only cheap, it also provides bulk implementation.

APKWS missiles are launched from suspended units M260 for 7 missiles or M261 for 19 missiles. The illumination of the target is carried out by the laser rangefinder-targets of aircraft or from the ground. The launch range from Ker’s helicopters 1.5-5 km, from jet aircraft – 2-12 km. The missile has a mass of up to 17 kg, a speed of up to 1500 m / s and a KVV 1-2 m.Ker uses a variety of warheads, in particular:

• High explosive M151 and M229 (weight 3.9 kg and 7.7 kg).
• Cumulative M246 (4 kg).
• M255 and M255A1 (6.4 kg) with arrow-shaped striking elements

Ker APKWS can shoot down light armored vehicles (infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, self-propelled howitzers, SPTRK, ZSU and ZGRK), unarmored vehicles (towed howitzer and mortar shells, MLRS, SAM, aircraft and helicopters in parking lots, cars, etc.). ). The Russian Armed Forces has three times as many lightly armored vehicles as tanks and even more unarmored vehicles. And Ker with a cumulative warhead can hit or damage tanks (side and rear).

And PU for APKWS missiles can be initially made on the chassis of jeeps and armored vehicles, or on the basis of MT-LB (with 1-2 M260 or M261, that is, 7-14 Ker or 19-38 Ker). .

Laser pointers will not be a problem either (for example, they are in Bayraktar TV2 UAV). In addition, Kerr units (with the help of adapters) can be installed on Ukrainian Mi-24 attack helicopters or on French H-125 and H-145 helicopters delivered to Ukraine. And if later F-16 aircraft are delivered from the United States to Ukraine, the adapter will not be needed.

But even in the version with PU on ground vehicles, Ker APKWS should be very effective against lightly armored vehicles, unarmored vehicles and enemy infantry. No wonder the Russian press is already worried. Source