Product · Multi-domain
APKWS II
Laser-guidance kit converting 2.75-inch Hydra-70 rockets into precision munitions; used air- and ground-launched against drones.
by BAE Systems
- Milestones1
- Sources5
- Operators2
- Components—
Laser-guidance kit converting 2.75-inch Hydra-70 rockets into precision munitions; used air- and ground-launched against drones.
Timeline1
- Combat useReported
First air-to-air combat use against Houthi drones
U.S. Air Force F-16s used APKWS II rockets in the air-to-air role to shoot down Houthi drones during Red Sea operations in 2024, the first such Air Force employment.
SourcesThe Aviationist
Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.
Technologies1
Supply chain inputs1
- Solid rocket motors
Subsystem
US supply consolidated from six makers to two between 2000 and 2015 (Aerojet Rocketdyne, now L3Harris, and Orbital ATK, now Northrop Grumman). DoD calls the narrow supplier base a bottleneck and has funded new entrants (Anduril, X-Bow, Ursa Major) and sub-tier suppliers through DPA Title III, while Northrop and L3Harris expand capacity.
CriticalReported
Materials, components and capacity this product depends on. Open an input to see who produces it and the controls on it.
Cost to the government
- Unit cost (per round)Estimated$85KThen-year $ · 1,000 units · FY2026
P-1 (PB2027), 3020F Missile Procurement, Air Force line 8: FY 2026 discretionary enacted 1,000 APKWS missiles for $85.428M; $85,428,000 / 1,000 = $85,428 per round (division by us). Navy/Army APKWS P-5 exhibits were not machine-readable from secnav.navy.mil.
- Contract unit priceEstimated$32K55,000 units
NAVAIR IDIQ N0001925D0018 to BAE Systems: $1,743,038,000 for up to 55,000 APKWS II (FRP Lots 13-17, Navy, Army and FMS). $1,743,038,000 / 55,000 = $31,691.6 per unit (division by us; ceiling value / maximum quantity). APKWS here is the laser-guidance kit, not the full rocket.
Unit costs and contract unit prices for this product, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.
Operators2
- UAUkraine
- USUnited States
- Combat use
- Documented · First air-to-air combat use against Houthi drones (2024)
Sources5
- 1.
Tectonic · Jul 15, 2026 · Supports: System · system input:solid-rocket-motors
“That includes 2.75-inch diameter SRMs used in the workhorse Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System ( APKWS ) laser-guided rocket, which has become a popular low-cost counter-UAS interceptor”
- 2.
Air & Space Forces Magazine · Dec 11, 2025 · Supports: System
“APWKS has already been used successfully as a ground-launched counter-drone weapon by Ukrainian forces to down one-way Russian attack drones.”
- 3.Government recordContracts For Aug. 28, 2025
U.S. Department of War · Aug 28, 2025 · Supports: Cost · amount
“is awarded a $1,743,038,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production and delivery of up to 55,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II Full Rate Production Lots 13-17”
- 4.
The Aviationist · Feb 3, 2025 · Supports: System milestone
“The U.S. Air Force has officially employed for the first time laser-guided 70mm rockets in the air-to-air role during operations in the Red Sea over the course of 2024.”
- 5.
Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount
“8 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Missile U 1,000 85,428 1,000 85,428”
Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.