Technology: BAE Systems Studies APKWS II Guided Rocket On Typhoon Jets To Enhance Low-Cost C-UAS Capabilities
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On September 11, 2025, at the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, BAE Systems confirmed that the Eurofighter Typhoon could soon be equipped with the laser-guided APKWS II rocket in an air-to-air configuration. Paul Smith, head of Typhoon Strategy Delivery at BAE Systems, described the weapon as a potential low-cost effector for the counter-uncrewed air system (C-UAS) role. The initiative reflects a growing recognition among European air forces that drone swarms pose a critical operational challenge and require affordable yet effective responses. This urgency is reinforced by the latest Russian drone incursions into NATO airspace, where alliance forces have often been forced to employ very expensive surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles to destroy drones worth only a fraction of the cost.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The integration of APKWS II onto the Typhoon illustrates a broader trend in airpower adaptation: the need to balance high-end capabilities with cost-effective munitions in order to meet persistent, low-intensity threats (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)
The Eurofighter Typhoon, one of Europe’s most advanced multirole combat aircraft, has continuously evolved since its entry into service in the early 2000s. Designed by a consortium of the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, the aircraft has been progressively upgraded with enhanced sensors, weapons, and mission systems. Its adaptability has made it a candidate for integrating innovative solutions such as APKWS II, which has already demonstrated combat effectiveness with US aircraft. The operational precedent lies with the F-15E and F-16C, which have both employed APKWS in the air-to-air role against drones, including real-world engagements by US forces against Houthi UAVs in the Middle East.
APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) is a laser-guided modification of the widely available 70mm Hydra rocket, turning a legacy unguided munition into a precision weapon at relatively low cost. When compared with traditional short-range air-to-air missiles, APKWS offers a significant cost advantage, enabling fighter jets to carry large numbers of rockets for mass engagements against drones and other low-value targets. The example of the F-15E carrying up to 42 rockets highlights the scalability of this approach, providing a volume of fire unmatched by conventional missile loadouts. Historically, similar concepts were explored during the Cold War with gun pods and large missile magazines for bomber defense, but APKWS brings modern precision guidance to this mass-fire concept, optimized for today’s asymmetric threats.
For European air forces operating the Typhoon, this initiative carries strategic implications. The proliferation of low-cost drones in conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East has exposed vulnerabilities in current air defense systems, which often rely on expensive surface-to-air interceptors or high-value missiles that are not cost-effective against massed UAV attacks. By equipping the Typhoon with APKWS II, operators gain a flexible, affordable, and combat-proven tool to counter drone swarms, reinforcing both homeland defense and expeditionary missions. Beyond the purely military dimension, this effort also strengthens the Eurofighter’s export competitiveness at a time when air forces globally are searching for scalable counter-drone solutions. In the broader geopolitical context, it reflects NATO’s shift towards integrating layered, cost-effective C-UAS capabilities into both ground- and air-based defense architectures.
The integration of APKWS II onto the Typhoon illustrates a broader trend in airpower adaptation: the need to balance high-end capabilities with cost-effective munitions in order to meet persistent, low-intensity threats. While long-range air-to-air missiles such as Meteor remain central to Typhoon’s role in peer conflict scenarios, they are ill-suited for dealing with inexpensive drones that may cost only a few thousand dollars each. APKWS bridges this gap by enabling Typhoon pilots to preserve high-value missile stocks while addressing saturation threats more efficiently. This dual-track approach reflects a new doctrine where advanced fighters must not only dominate high-end air combat but also sustain continuous operations against irregular threats, a lesson reinforced by both the Ukrainian battlefield and the recent maritime drone campaigns in the Red Sea.
The assessment of APKWS II for the Typhoon signals an important step in adapting fourth-generation fighters to contemporary aerial threats. It demonstrates how legacy munitions can be transformed into modern solutions with immediate relevance to ongoing conflicts. By working closely with partner nations, BAE Systems and the Eurofighter consortium are shaping the future of C-UAS capabilities in Europe, offering air forces a pragmatic means of maintaining air superiority in an era defined by drone proliferation.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
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On September 11, 2025, at the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, BAE Systems confirmed that the Eurofighter Typhoon could soon be equipped with the laser-guided APKWS II rocket in an air-to-air configuration. Paul Smith, head of Typhoon Strategy Delivery at BAE Systems, described the weapon as a potential low-cost effector for the counter-uncrewed air system (C-UAS) role. The initiative reflects a growing recognition among European air forces that drone swarms pose a critical operational challenge and require affordable yet effective responses. This urgency is reinforced by the latest Russian drone incursions into NATO airspace, where alliance forces have often been forced to employ very expensive surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles to destroy drones worth only a fraction of the cost.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The integration of APKWS II onto the Typhoon illustrates a broader trend in airpower adaptation: the need to balance high-end capabilities with cost-effective munitions in order to meet persistent, low-intensity threats (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)
The Eurofighter Typhoon, one of Europe’s most advanced multirole combat aircraft, has continuously evolved since its entry into service in the early 2000s. Designed by a consortium of the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, the aircraft has been progressively upgraded with enhanced sensors, weapons, and mission systems. Its adaptability has made it a candidate for integrating innovative solutions such as APKWS II, which has already demonstrated combat effectiveness with US aircraft. The operational precedent lies with the F-15E and F-16C, which have both employed APKWS in the air-to-air role against drones, including real-world engagements by US forces against Houthi UAVs in the Middle East.
APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) is a laser-guided modification of the widely available 70mm Hydra rocket, turning a legacy unguided munition into a precision weapon at relatively low cost. When compared with traditional short-range air-to-air missiles, APKWS offers a significant cost advantage, enabling fighter jets to carry large numbers of rockets for mass engagements against drones and other low-value targets. The example of the F-15E carrying up to 42 rockets highlights the scalability of this approach, providing a volume of fire unmatched by conventional missile loadouts. Historically, similar concepts were explored during the Cold War with gun pods and large missile magazines for bomber defense, but APKWS brings modern precision guidance to this mass-fire concept, optimized for today’s asymmetric threats.
For European air forces operating the Typhoon, this initiative carries strategic implications. The proliferation of low-cost drones in conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East has exposed vulnerabilities in current air defense systems, which often rely on expensive surface-to-air interceptors or high-value missiles that are not cost-effective against massed UAV attacks. By equipping the Typhoon with APKWS II, operators gain a flexible, affordable, and combat-proven tool to counter drone swarms, reinforcing both homeland defense and expeditionary missions. Beyond the purely military dimension, this effort also strengthens the Eurofighter’s export competitiveness at a time when air forces globally are searching for scalable counter-drone solutions. In the broader geopolitical context, it reflects NATO’s shift towards integrating layered, cost-effective C-UAS capabilities into both ground- and air-based defense architectures.
The integration of APKWS II onto the Typhoon illustrates a broader trend in airpower adaptation: the need to balance high-end capabilities with cost-effective munitions in order to meet persistent, low-intensity threats. While long-range air-to-air missiles such as Meteor remain central to Typhoon’s role in peer conflict scenarios, they are ill-suited for dealing with inexpensive drones that may cost only a few thousand dollars each. APKWS bridges this gap by enabling Typhoon pilots to preserve high-value missile stocks while addressing saturation threats more efficiently. This dual-track approach reflects a new doctrine where advanced fighters must not only dominate high-end air combat but also sustain continuous operations against irregular threats, a lesson reinforced by both the Ukrainian battlefield and the recent maritime drone campaigns in the Red Sea.
The assessment of APKWS II for the Typhoon signals an important step in adapting fourth-generation fighters to contemporary aerial threats. It demonstrates how legacy munitions can be transformed into modern solutions with immediate relevance to ongoing conflicts. By working closely with partner nations, BAE Systems and the Eurofighter consortium are shaping the future of C-UAS capabilities in Europe, offering air forces a pragmatic means of maintaining air superiority in an era defined by drone proliferation.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
