British jets to get new anti-drone missile systems
British Royal Air Force Typhoon jets will be equipped with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) to more affordably counter Iranian drones in the Middle East. The APKWS, a laser-guided rocket system, offers a cost-effective alternative to expensive missiles currently used for drone interception. The UK has tested the system with defense firms and plans rapid deployment amid rising regional threats from Iran-backed drone attacks.
- ▪Royal Air Force Typhoon jets will be fitted with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) to counter Iranian drones.
- ▪The APKWS costs around $30,000 per unit, significantly less than the £200,000 missiles previously used to shoot down drones.
- ▪Iranian-made Shahed drones have been used in attacks across the Middle East, including an incident at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
- ▪The UK tested the APKWS with defense firms BAE Systems and QinetiQ for rapid deployment.
- ▪Qatar has recently sought to purchase 10,000 APKWS units from the United States.
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| Publication time | Sun, 17 May 2026 03:36:07 GMT |
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British jets to get new anti-drone missile systems11 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleClaire KeenanReutersBritish fighter jets in the Middle East will be equipped with new missile systems to make it cheaper to intercept Iranian drones.Royal Air Force Typhoon jets will be fitted with an Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) to "destroy targets more precisely and at a fraction of the price of missiles currently in use", the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced.Gulf countries and allies in the region have been grappling with how to counter Iran's Shahed drones, which are relatively cheap to make and have been causing considerable damage.During the 2024 conflict between Israel and Iran, the UK was reported to have shot down some drones with missiles worth around £200,000…
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