APKWS launcher: more detailed shots of its operations were published online

Soldiers of the 37th Marine Brigade and the Buzky Gard unit demonstrated the APKWS rocket launch vehicle.

A new video of the units’ operation was published on social media.

It recorded launches of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets from the HMMWV chassis.

The military destroyed targets in the Kherson region using this weapon system.

The APKWS launcher has a module for launching 4 rockets.

The shots of the destroyed targets include the mast of a mobile surveillance system, which indicates the high accuracy of guided rockets.

APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) is a project of BAE Systems. It converts 70mm Hydra 70 rockets into precision projectiles.

The VAMPIRE (Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Isolated ISR Rocket Equipment) missile system was created based on this rocket. Its integrator is L3Harris Technologies.

VAMPIRE can be mounted on a variety of transport platforms, namely, on passenger SUVs.

Its target range is up to 5,000 meters.

APKWS can hit aerial targets, which turns it into a short-range SAM when used in the VAMPIRE kit.

The Pentagon announced the supply of these missile systems to Ukraine in a security assistance package presented on August 24.

Also, in January 2023, Germany handed over 20 units of APKWS mobile rocket launchers to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Rocket launchers were installed on pickup trucks.

The assistance package from the United States, announced on May 3, 2023, also contains unguided Hydra 70 rockets.

According to Yurii Zbanatsky, Militarnyi`s aviation columnist, the use of Hydra 70 rockets by Ukrainian warplanes also opens up the prospect of converting army aviation to use APKWS from aviation platforms.