BAE Systems is studying the integration of APKWS II missiles on Eurofighter Typhoon jets, in response to the increasing threat posed by drones in Europe.
The information was confirmed by representative Paul Smith during the DSEI 2025 exhibition in London, with the company stating that it is already working with countries operating the aircraft to assess the technical aspects of the adaptation.
In the United States, the APKWS has already been used in operations against drones, integrated with the F-16, and tested on the F-15E Strike Eagle in configurations that allow loading dozens of laser-guided rockets simultaneously, increasing the capacity to combat drones and cruise missiles. The APKWS is essentially a laser guidance kit mounted on a 70mm Hydra rocket; when equipped with a proximity fuse, it increases the likelihood of destruction even in close passes near the target.
In addition to its efficiency and relatively low cost — the guidance section of the APKWS II is estimated to cost between $15,000 and $20,000, much lower than missiles like the AIM-120 or AIM-9X — BAE has developed variants such as the AGR-20F FALCO, with a proximity warhead and algorithms optimized for aerial targets.
There are also plans to add an infrared sensor, which would enable a “fire and forget” mode and expand its use against ground and maritime targets.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @eurofighter | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
“Feasibility studies” for integration of APKWS laser guided rockets with Typhoon as potential lower-cost counter #drone weapon now underway, says BAE. Discussions with customers of what level of integration is required. #DSEI2025 #dsei25 pic.twitter.com/wbiikSOFJh
— Tim Robinson (@RAeSTimR) September 11, 2025
