Overview
- General Atomics and the Air Force fired laser-guided APKWS rockets from an MQ-9A Reaper at the Nevada Test and Training Range, with live shots against aerial targets confirmed Monday.
- APKWS adds a small laser-guidance kit to a standard 70 mm rocket so the fins deploy after launch and the seeker locks onto a laser spot to steer the round to the target.
- Each APKWS shot costs about $25,000 to $40,000 versus hundreds of thousands to over $1 million for typical air-to-air missiles, and rocket pods let a single aircraft carry many more interceptors for drone swarms.
- Air Force leaders said they signed requirements for a lower-cost, more attritable MQ-9 replacement and reported that more than 50 companies responded to an April request for ideas on fast-to-field ISR drones.
- The MQ-9 fleet has dropped to about 135 aircraft after recent combat losses, and officials told senators they are seeking funds this fiscal year to buy back Reapers to refill the inventory.