BAE Systems RAZER – A Low-Cost Precision Guided Munition

BAE Systems Australia has recently revealed its new sovereign munition concept, the RAZER, positioning the company as a potential supplier of low-cost precision guided munitions to Australian and export customers. The RAZER is designed to transform a standard non-guided munition into a precision air-launched weapon at a low cost, making it an affordable solution for urgent local and overseas demand.

The RAZER system includes a wing/body kit and tail unit equipped with a powered GPS/INS guidance control and navigation system. It is designed to operate from uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) and rotary-wing aircraft, providing significant stand-off range for the launch platform. This low-cost air-launched precision guided munition could bridge the gap between inexpensive, short-range, land-based weapons and expensive, long-range, air-launched weapon systems.

“RAZER can meet urgent local and overseas demand for low-cost sovereign munition solutions that could be deployed from the air. It could deliver a powerful and affordable battlefield strike capability for users globally.” The ability to deploy RAZER from an airborne platform and glide to target would dramatically increase the weapon’s range, making it a valuable asset for military operations.

BAE Systems Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben Hudson

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The company is currently working with the Commonwealth of Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise to establish and grow the country’s domestic capability and export market. BAE Systems’ Battlespace Integrated Solutions team has developed RAZER as a payload for UCAVs and helicopters and is moving through a development process that will see the munition become a sovereign capability delivered by its local manufacturing operations.

As part of an initiative to increase the domestic manufacturing of defense equipment in Australia, the Royal Australian Air Force and Boeing are collaborating on the MQ-28 Ghost Bat autonomous jet. This will be the first combat aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in half a century. The aircraft was unveiled for the first time on February 28 at Avalon.

The RAZER low-cost precision guided munition could be a game-changer for the military industry. With its ability to transform standard non-guided munitions into precision air-launched weapons, it could provide a powerful and affordable battlefield strike capability for users globally. The market potential for the RAZER is broad, making it a promising solution for urgent local and overseas demand.