Based on lessons learned from operations in the Middle East and analysis of the conflict in Ukraine, the US Air Force is transitioning to equipping its aircraft en masse with the APKWS II precision-guided missile as its primary counter-drone weapon. This decision is driven by both military effectiveness and cost-effectiveness: the cost of a single missile is approximately $30,000, making it the optimal choice for destroying cheap kamikaze drones, which can cost thousands of dollars.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) announced the successful completion of flight tests of the MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with the APKWS II missile pod. During the tests, which took place at the Nevada Test Range, the drone successfully engaged both ground and airborne targets, confirming its ability to effectively intercept drone swarms, including models such as the Iranian Shahed. GA-ASI President David Alexander noted that the APKWS II provides the MQ-9 Reaper with an additional, more cost-effective counter-drone weapon option.

The APKWS II's capability to use against aerial targets has previously been tested on a wide range of manned aircraft. F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters, as well as A-10 Thunderbolt II and OA-1K Skyraider II attack aircraft, have officially acquired this capability. These aircraft have already used these missiles in combat in the Middle East to intercept drones launched by Iranian forces and their allies. For example, the F-15E fighter can carry up to 42 of these missiles, turning it into a true "arsenal aircraft" for countering swarms.

APKWS II technology is a laser guidance kit that is installed on a standard unguided 70mm Hydra rocket, transforming it into a precision-guided weapon. Its operating principle is based on illuminating a target with a laser beam from an aircraft or drone. Special optical sensors on the rocket capture the reflected signal and adjust its flight path. Although the rocket was originally designed for ground strikes, its use against slow-flying drones has proven highly effective.

Beyond aviation, this weapon is also being used on other platforms. Successful tests of the APKWS II from unmanned surface vessels (CUSVs) have been reported, as well as the integration of these missiles into the arsenal of fifth-generation multirole fighters. Thus, the APKWS II missile is becoming a standardized and cross-platform counter-drone weapon, a direct response to the challenges demonstrated in modern conflicts.