UK Typhoon jets fitted with bargain-bin drone busters for Middle East sorties
The UK has deployed low-cost anti-drone rockets to the Middle East, enhancing its defense capabilities against drone threats. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) will be fitted to British Typhoon jets and has already seen operational use. This system offers a more affordable alternative to traditional air-to-air missiles, addressing the urgent need for effective counter-drone measures in the region.
- ▪The APKWS adds laser homing capability to US-made Hydra 70 unguided rockets.
- ▪The system costs between $30,000 and $40,000, making it cheaper than typical air-to-air missiles.
- ▪The deployment of APKWS comes in response to the drone threat posed by the US-Iran conflict.
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| Original publisher | www.theregister.com - Articles |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theregister.com/offbeat/2026/05/19/uk-typhoon-jets-fitted-with-bargain-bin-drone-busters-for-middle-east-sorties/5242412 |
| Publication time | Tue, 19 May 2026 12:28:00 +0200 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-19T10:34:57.546Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-19T10:51:04.783Z |
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Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
(function() { let windowUrl = window.location.href; windowUrl = windowUrl.substring(windowUrl.indexOf('?') + 1); let messageElement = document.querySelector('.shareableMessage'); if (windowUrl && windowUrl.includes('code') && windowUrl.includes('expires')) { messageElement.style.display = 'block'; } })(); Offbeat UK Typhoon jets fitted with bargain-bin drone busters for Middle East sorties Low-cost laser-guided rockets offer cheaper way to swat Shahed-style threats than firing pricey air-to-air missiles Dan Robinson Dan Robinson Published tue 19 May 2026 // 11:28 UTC Britain has deployed low-cost anti-drone rockets to the Middle East, just weeks after successful tests of the equipment were announced.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) says the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) will…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at www.theregister.com - Articles.