Royal Air Force Typhoon jets deployed to the Middle East are now carrying APKWS laser-guided rockets for counter-drone missions, following a rapid integration and testing effort. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System turns 70 mm unguided rockets into precision munitions that can be used against small aerial threats at lower cost than conventional air-to-air missiles.
According to reporting on the deployment, the capability moved from test to operational use in under two months. A ground-target firing was completed in March, followed by air-to-air trials by pilots from 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron in April. RAF Typhoons from 9 Squadron have since flown operational sorties with the system in the region.
The weapon has been positioned as a response to the growing drone threat facing aircraft operating in the Middle East. The APKWS package also increases the number of interceptors a Typhoon can carry, with each rocket pod able to hold multiple guided rockets.