US equips F-16 aircraft with APKWS II missiles capable of intercepting drones

US Air Force F-16 fighters will now use laser-guided APKWS II missiles to destroy Houthi drones.

Here's What We Know

According to The War Zone, citing a military official, this is not the first time the missile has been used in this role - it was first used last year as an alternative to the expensive AIM-9X Sidewinder. The cost of the APKWS II is significantly lower: about $15,000 compared to $420,000 for the AIM-9X.

According to a US Air Force spokesperson, the APWKS II was first used last year "as one of many options to counter the threat from Houthi unmanned aerial systems".

The missile is a laser-guided modification of the unguided Hydra 70 with a range of up to 15 km. It is used from aircraft and helicopters equipped with LITENING 5 or Sniper XR targeting systems.

In the early 2000s, the US Army did not have a cheap system to destroy lightly armoured targets. In mid-2005, BAE Systems presented a high-precision version of the Hydra 70 unguided missile with a semi-active homing warhead. In December 2019, the missile successfully destroyed a drone that simulated a cruise missile for the first time. In 2021, it was tested to engage ground and air targets.

Source: The War Zone