The US Department of Defense has a maximum of 55,000 flights.Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) IIIt announced a contract totaling $1.7 billion to procure missiles. This weapon is considered a low-cost, highly accurate solution to combat combat drones.
According to the Pentagon, the US military is expected to receive “tens of thousands of shots” of weapons, with an estimated price of around $30,000 per shot. BAE Systems will be in charge of production and delivery and is expected to continue until the end of 2031.
Versatility and low cost
The biggest feature of the APKWS II is that it can convert Hydra 70 rockets without guidance devices into precision weapons, making it significantly more economical than traditional surface-to-air missiles.
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Furthermore, remote fuses are mounted for air targets such as suicide-destructive drones and reconnaissance UAVs, allowing the warhead to explode without having to hit them directly. This greatly improves the hit rate for targets with small and highly mobile nature.
The missile can be fired from helicopters, light attack aircraft and ground platforms, making it highly flexible on the battlefield. It is already operated by US military and allies (including Ukraine).
Integration with vampire systems
Based on the APKWS II, the air defense system “Vampire” integrated by L3Harris Technologies has also been developed. The system can be mounted on a variety of vehicles, including SUVs, providing maneuverability and speed in drone intercept.
Strategic strengthening
The contract is a critical step in strengthening the capabilities of the US and its allies to combat the growing drone threat in a variety of operational areas.
In June, approximately 20,000 APKWS II missiles, originally prepared for Ukraine, were directed to US Air Force forces deployed in the Middle East, indicating the strategic importance of this technology.
Source/Image: US Department of Defense | Militarnyi | BAE Systems. This content was created with AI support and confirmed by the editorial department.
