El sistema de cohetes Aire \u2013 Superficie HYDRA 70mm, \u00a0apto para su lanzamiento desde plataformas de ala fija o rotante, es uno de los m\u00e1s reconocidos del mundo, en su tipo y calibre. Con varias d\u00e9cadas en uso en FFAA de muchos pa\u00edses y suficientemente probado en combate, tiene la ventaja de aportar adem\u00e1s, una excelente relaci\u00f3n de bajo costo\/ efectividad. Sin embargo su escasa precisi\u00f3n, comparado con los sistemas guiados, motiv\u00f3 que estuviera a\u00a0 punto de ser discontinuado por obsolescencia. La US Navy apost\u00f3 a la ejecuci\u00f3n de proyectos que le permitieran a \u00e9ste confiable y probado sistema, mejorar sus prestaciones mediante alg\u00fan tipo sistema de guiado. Sobre la base de un aprovechamiento racional de los stocks de munici\u00f3n convencional existentes, se ha desarrollado un kit modular que, acoplado entre cabeza de guerra y cuerpo del vector, incorpora un sistema de guiado laser de bajo costo, que permitir\u00eda incluso reemplazar al reconocido pero tambi\u00e9n costoso Misil HELLFIRE, en determinadas misiones de combate de menor relevancia. <\/p>\n
The versatile Hydra 70mm rocket family<\/a> is primed for a new lease on life, thanks to widespread programs aimed at converting these ubiquitous rockets into cheap laser-guided precision weapons. Conversion benefits include cost, use on both helicopters and fighters, more precision weapons per platform, low collateral damage, and the activation of large weapon stockpiles that couldn\u2019t be used under strict rules of engagement.<\/p>\n Firms all over the world have grasped this opportunity, which explains why strong competition has emerged<\/a> from all points of the compass. America\u2019s \u201cAdvanced Precision-Kill Weapon System (APKWS)\u201d is one of those efforts, but the road from obvious premise to working weapon has been slow. After numerous delays and false starts since its inception in 1996, an \u201cAPKWS-II\u201d program finally entered System Design and Development (SDD) in 2006. In 2010, it entered low-rate production, and it was fielded to the front lines in 2012. That date will still put APKWS on the cutting edge of battlefield technology, as a leading player in a larger trend toward guided air-to-ground rockets.<\/p>\n