The United Kingdom has deployed a new low-cost anti-drone missile system in the Middle East that moved from testing to deployment in under two months, the Ministry of Defence revealed on Sunday.
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), fitted to RAF Typhoon fighter jets, converts unguided rockets into laser-guided precision weapons. It is manufactured by BAE Systems and QinetiQ.
Air Commodore Donal McGurk, Air 11 Group deputy director operations, welcomed “the speed of development and meticulous testing behind the deployment of these missile systems for use on our Typhoons”.
RAF pilots successfully tested the weapon against ground targets in March and completed air-to-air trials against drones in April. The missiles are now being used on operational sorties flown by 9 Squadron Typhoon jets in the region.
Luke Pollard, a junior minister for defence, said the capability would allow the RAF to destroy significantly more drones “at a much lower cost” than existing…
