US clears potential $100m APKWS guided rocket sale to Jordan

The proposed sale is one of many APKWS deals the US has approved for international customers this year.
The US Department of State has approved a potential $100 million military sale to Jordan involving up to 1,500 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) guided rockets.

The State Department says the sale would support US foreign policy and national security interests by strengthening the security of Jordan, a major non-NATO US ally it describes as “an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East”.

“The acquisition of additional APKWS II guided rockets will increase Jordan’s capacity to defend itself, allow for the reduction of sustained U.S. support over time and provide increased security for US military assets stationed in Jordan,” says the department.

APKWS II is a laser-guided weapon system that allows conventional 70mm rockets to strike targets more precisely. It can be used against both ground and aerial threats, including drones.

In October, the Pentagon and BAE Systems announced a seven-year framework agreement to ramp up APKWS production. The arrangement includes plans to increase output to as many as 35,000 guidance kits annually for US allies.

The proposed sale follows similar US approvals for potential APKWS II purchases by Saudi Arabia, Italy and the United Arab Emirates earlier this year.

The principal contractor for the potential deal will be British defence manufacturer BAE Systems, through its US operations in Nashua, New Hampshire.

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