EXCLUSIVE: U.S. F-15E fighter jet expands mission set with APKWS rocket pods to hit drones and ground targets
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According to a picture released by the U.S. Central Command on May 30, 2025, via its official X account, a new armament configuration of the U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle has been revealed, showing the aircraft armed with Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket pods. The photo clearly displays three APKWS II pods mounted under each wing, each carrying seven laser-guided Hydra 70mm rockets, installed beneath the standard AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile mounts. This image provides the first visual confirmation that the Strike Eagle has recently been operationally equipped with these precision-guided rockets, marking a significant enhancement in its mission flexibility and firepower for modern combat environments.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle armed with six APKWS II rocket pods carrying 42 laser-guided Hydra 70mm rockets, mounted beneath standard AIM-9 and AIM-120 missile pylons, enhancing its capability to engage drones and ground targets with precision. (Picture source: X account U.S. Central Command)
The APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II) is a guidance kit developed by BAE Systems that converts the standard 2.75-inch (70mm) Hydra rocket into a precision-guided munition capable of engaging ground and aerial threats with high accuracy. The system incorporates a laser-guidance section threaded between the rocket’s legacy high-explosive warhead and the Mk66 Mod 4 rocket motor, transforming the unguided munition into a low-cost, surgical strike weapon. According to information published by the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), production of the APKWS II began in 2011, and Initial Operational Capability (IOC) was declared in 2012 for use on AH-1W and UH-1Y helicopters. In March 2014, it was successfully integrated onto MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters. On March 30, 2016, NAVAIR announced that the U.S. Navy delivered the first fixed-wing aircraft variant of the APKWS II to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 operating the AV-8B Harrier in theater. Later in 2016, the system was fielded on the AV-8B, F-16, and A-10 aircraft. The F-15E had not previously been listed among the supported platforms, highlighting this deployment as a new and exclusive operational expansion.
The APKWS II is intended as an inexpensive way to destroy targets while limiting collateral damage in close combat. Its all-up round measures 73.77 inches in length with a wingspan of 9.55 inches and a diameter of 2.75 inches. The guidance section alone is 18.5 inches long and weighs 9.8 pounds, while the full rocket round weighs approximately 32.6 pounds. The system can reach speeds of up to 1,000 meters per second and is equipped with either the M151 or Mk 152 10-pound high-explosive warhead. In operational use, the APKWS II has an effective range of approximately 1.5 to 5 kilometers, depending on launch altitude and platform. It has been integrated across a variety of platforms including the AH-1W, UH-1Y, MH-60, AV-8B, F-16, A-10, and AH-64, though the F-15E is notably absent from the official list of platforms, reinforcing the significance of its current fielding as observed in the CENTCOM (U.S. Central Command) imagery.
According to information published by the U.S. Air Force, the standard armament of the F-15E includes one internally mounted 20mm M61A1 multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds of ammunition, four AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range missiles, and either four or eight AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range missiles. Additionally, the aircraft is certified to carry any air-to-surface weapon in the Air Force inventory, including both conventional and nuclear munitions. The recent image published by CENTCOM confirms that the F-15E has now been equipped with three APKWS II rocket pods under each wing, adding 42 additional precision-guided strike options without replacing its primary air-to-air or heavy air-to-ground ordnance.
From a tactical standpoint, the integration of APKWS II into the F-15E platform offers significant operational advantages. The system delivers a cost-effective solution for precision engagement of soft and lightly armored targets such as pickup trucks, light tactical vehicles, enemy command posts, rocket launchers, and logistics hubs. It is also highly effective against dismounted combatants, roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and mortar or rocket teams, especially when operating in environments where friendly forces are in close proximity. In addition to ground targets, APKWS II has proven utility against slow-moving aerial targets such as rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), enabling the F-15E to conduct a wide range of counter-drone and airbase defense missions. These 70mm laser-guided rockets allow the aircraft to perform high-volume precision strikes, bridging the gap between area saturation fire and single-target precision missiles.
The Hydra 70 rocket itself, a long-serving staple of NATO and U.S. arsenals, is known for its modularity and adaptability. It can be configured with a variety of warheads for different tactical effects, including high-explosive fragmentation, smoke, illumination, and anti-personnel. With the addition of the APKWS II guidance kit, its utility expands far beyond area suppression to include precision strike roles suitable for urban environments, near-friendly-force engagements, or situations demanding minimal collateral damage. This makes it ideal for supporting ground forces, convoy protection, and rapid-response interdiction missions.
The addition of APKWS II rocket pods on the F-15E does not diminish the aircraft’s established roles in air dominance and deep strike operations. Rather, it adds a new layer of precision and volume to its existing capability set. The Strike Eagle can now act as a precision-rocket truck, delivering a high number of accurate, low-collateral strikes while preserving larger and more expensive munitions for hardened or high-value targets. This new loadout is also particularly valuable in base defense and air patrol missions, where a need exists to counter multiple drones or other small, low-cost threats without depleting advanced missile inventories.
The image published by CENTCOM offers more than a visual update—it signals a deliberate shift in U.S. Air Force tactical doctrine, one that leverages legacy platforms with modular, scalable weaponry to meet a growing range of combat demands. The integration of APKWS II into the F-15E Strike Eagle enhances the aircraft’s relevance in a battlespace that increasingly demands precision, flexibility, and cost efficiency. It ensures that this proven fighter remains a critical component of the U.S. tactical air fleet well into the future, capable of adapting rapidly to new threats with proven and effective technology.
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According to a picture released by the U.S. Central Command on May 30, 2025, via its official X account, a new armament configuration of the U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle has been revealed, showing the aircraft armed with Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket pods. The photo clearly displays three APKWS II pods mounted under each wing, each carrying seven laser-guided Hydra 70mm rockets, installed beneath the standard AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile mounts. This image provides the first visual confirmation that the Strike Eagle has recently been operationally equipped with these precision-guided rockets, marking a significant enhancement in its mission flexibility and firepower for modern combat environments.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle armed with six APKWS II rocket pods carrying 42 laser-guided Hydra 70mm rockets, mounted beneath standard AIM-9 and AIM-120 missile pylons, enhancing its capability to engage drones and ground targets with precision. (Picture source: X account U.S. Central Command)
The APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II) is a guidance kit developed by BAE Systems that converts the standard 2.75-inch (70mm) Hydra rocket into a precision-guided munition capable of engaging ground and aerial threats with high accuracy. The system incorporates a laser-guidance section threaded between the rocket’s legacy high-explosive warhead and the Mk66 Mod 4 rocket motor, transforming the unguided munition into a low-cost, surgical strike weapon. According to information published by the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), production of the APKWS II began in 2011, and Initial Operational Capability (IOC) was declared in 2012 for use on AH-1W and UH-1Y helicopters. In March 2014, it was successfully integrated onto MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters. On March 30, 2016, NAVAIR announced that the U.S. Navy delivered the first fixed-wing aircraft variant of the APKWS II to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 operating the AV-8B Harrier in theater. Later in 2016, the system was fielded on the AV-8B, F-16, and A-10 aircraft. The F-15E had not previously been listed among the supported platforms, highlighting this deployment as a new and exclusive operational expansion.
The APKWS II is intended as an inexpensive way to destroy targets while limiting collateral damage in close combat. Its all-up round measures 73.77 inches in length with a wingspan of 9.55 inches and a diameter of 2.75 inches. The guidance section alone is 18.5 inches long and weighs 9.8 pounds, while the full rocket round weighs approximately 32.6 pounds. The system can reach speeds of up to 1,000 meters per second and is equipped with either the M151 or Mk 152 10-pound high-explosive warhead. In operational use, the APKWS II has an effective range of approximately 1.5 to 5 kilometers, depending on launch altitude and platform. It has been integrated across a variety of platforms including the AH-1W, UH-1Y, MH-60, AV-8B, F-16, A-10, and AH-64, though the F-15E is notably absent from the official list of platforms, reinforcing the significance of its current fielding as observed in the CENTCOM (U.S. Central Command) imagery.
According to information published by the U.S. Air Force, the standard armament of the F-15E includes one internally mounted 20mm M61A1 multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds of ammunition, four AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range missiles, and either four or eight AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range missiles. Additionally, the aircraft is certified to carry any air-to-surface weapon in the Air Force inventory, including both conventional and nuclear munitions. The recent image published by CENTCOM confirms that the F-15E has now been equipped with three APKWS II rocket pods under each wing, adding 42 additional precision-guided strike options without replacing its primary air-to-air or heavy air-to-ground ordnance.
From a tactical standpoint, the integration of APKWS II into the F-15E platform offers significant operational advantages. The system delivers a cost-effective solution for precision engagement of soft and lightly armored targets such as pickup trucks, light tactical vehicles, enemy command posts, rocket launchers, and logistics hubs. It is also highly effective against dismounted combatants, roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and mortar or rocket teams, especially when operating in environments where friendly forces are in close proximity. In addition to ground targets, APKWS II has proven utility against slow-moving aerial targets such as rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), enabling the F-15E to conduct a wide range of counter-drone and airbase defense missions. These 70mm laser-guided rockets allow the aircraft to perform high-volume precision strikes, bridging the gap between area saturation fire and single-target precision missiles.
The Hydra 70 rocket itself, a long-serving staple of NATO and U.S. arsenals, is known for its modularity and adaptability. It can be configured with a variety of warheads for different tactical effects, including high-explosive fragmentation, smoke, illumination, and anti-personnel. With the addition of the APKWS II guidance kit, its utility expands far beyond area suppression to include precision strike roles suitable for urban environments, near-friendly-force engagements, or situations demanding minimal collateral damage. This makes it ideal for supporting ground forces, convoy protection, and rapid-response interdiction missions.
The addition of APKWS II rocket pods on the F-15E does not diminish the aircraft’s established roles in air dominance and deep strike operations. Rather, it adds a new layer of precision and volume to its existing capability set. The Strike Eagle can now act as a precision-rocket truck, delivering a high number of accurate, low-collateral strikes while preserving larger and more expensive munitions for hardened or high-value targets. This new loadout is also particularly valuable in base defense and air patrol missions, where a need exists to counter multiple drones or other small, low-cost threats without depleting advanced missile inventories.
The image published by CENTCOM offers more than a visual update—it signals a deliberate shift in U.S. Air Force tactical doctrine, one that leverages legacy platforms with modular, scalable weaponry to meet a growing range of combat demands. The integration of APKWS II into the F-15E Strike Eagle enhances the aircraft’s relevance in a battlespace that increasingly demands precision, flexibility, and cost efficiency. It ensures that this proven fighter remains a critical component of the U.S. tactical air fleet well into the future, capable of adapting rapidly to new threats with proven and effective technology.
