Overview
- Britain’s Ministry of Defence disclosed Saturday it had moved the laser-guided APKWS from trials to frontline Typhoon use in under two months with BAE Systems and QinetiQ.
- The kit adds a laser seeker to 70mm Hydra rockets on Typhoons to hit slow drones for about $20,000 per shot, a price point meant to conserve costly missiles and expand the number of interceptors each jet can carry according to UK reporting.
- 9 Squadron Typhoons are now flying operational sorties in the Middle East with the new rounds to protect British people, interests and partners, the MoD said.
- Trials began in March with a ground strike, then April air-to-air firings by 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron validated the weapon against drone targets.
- The Daily Mail reported a first combat use defending Qatari airspace, a claim not corroborated by the other outlets cited here.