RAF eyes cheap drone-killer as Typhoon jet tests laser-guided rockets
- Reference: 1775671126
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/04/08/typhoon_drone_laser_rockets/
- Source link:
The defense firm says that it conducted tests at its development center in Lancashire, England, using a Typhoon evaluation aircraft to deliver a successful strike against a ground-based target at a military testing range.
The tech in question is the somewhat absurdly named Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System ( [1]APKWS ), which is actually a kit that adds laser guidance to Hydra 70 2.75-inch (70 mm) unguided rockets.
[2]
It adds a mid-section between the rocket motor and its warhead that is equipped with canard fins for steering. Laser seekers mounted on the leading edge of those fins lock onto a laser-designated target when the rocket is fired.
[3]
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According to some sources, the system costs less than $40,000, making it much less expensive than a typical air-to-air missile, and possibly comparable to the cost of an Iranian Shahed drone.
BAE says that the tests, backed by the RAF, will provide valuable insights into how a low-cost precision weapon could be integrated with the aircraft, particularly where affordable interception options are needed for use against uncrewed aerial systems (drones).
[5]
This also forms part of a range of capability enhancements planned for Typhoon to increase the aircraft's potency in current and future combat air operations, the firm added. We asked the UK Ministry of Defence if it would confirm that it plans to deploy APKWS rockets to its frontline jets.
APKWS is not actually a new weapon system. It was developed well over a decade ago and reached initial operating capability in 2012.
[6]Future of UK's multibillion Ajax armored vehicle program looks shaky
[7]British Army splashes $86M on AI gear to speed up the battlefield kill chain
[8]British military to get legal OK to swat drones near bases
[9]Sword of Damocles hangs over UK military's Ajax as minister says back it or scrap it
But the rise of drones in modern warfare and the need to counter them with an affordable interception capability has seen renewed interest in it. The Pentagon reportedly [10]ordered thousands of laser-guided rockets in a deal worth $322 million at the end of last year.
Also last year, APKWS was [11]tested in the US with F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, and is understood to have been used by F-16 fighters against Houthi drones attacking shipping in the Red Sea.
This isn't the only anti-drone weapon in the UK's arsenal. Late last year, the Royal Navy's Wildcat helicopters were cleared to carry the [12]Lightweight Multirole Missile or Martlet, which is also laser-guided. Some have since been [13]deployed to the RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus to help defend it against Iranian drones.
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Many Reg readers will no doubt be aware that the RAF's Typhoon jets were named in homage to the Second World War's [15]Hawker Typhoon . The latter aircraft also carried rockets but for ground attack purposes, and proved highly effective against tanks during fighting after the Normandy landings. ®
Get our [16]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/apkws
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2adbQAarLJZxNmU4dSoPXrwAAAAI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44adbQAarLJZxNmU4dSoPXrwAAAAI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33adbQAarLJZxNmU4dSoPXrwAAAAI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44adbQAarLJZxNmU4dSoPXrwAAAAI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/25/uk_defence_grapples_with_ajax/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/10/mod_project_asgard/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/03/armed_forces_bill_drones/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/01/uk_military_ajax_vehicle/
[10] https://www.airandspaceforces.com/apkws-base-laser-guided-rockets-pentagon-contract/
[11] https://www.twz.com/air/check-out-an-f-15e-strike-eagle-firing-drone-killing-laser-guided-rockets
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/22/royal_navy_martlet/
[13] https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2026/march/07/20260307-wildcats-akrotiri
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33adbQAarLJZxNmU4dSoPXrwAAAAI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Typhoon
[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Cannon
It's very difficult to hit a small target with a cannon, especially when there is a large difference in flying speed.
Typical drone speeds are ~100mph but a Typhoon or other military jet becomes difficult to control at speeds less than 250 kias. One of my friends has experience of flying F4 Phantoms over Germany and he has some interesting tales of trying to intercept slow flying aircraft (~100 knots) crossing from East to West Germany when he was struggling to control the Phantom at 250 knots.
Given the effective range of cannon fire (about 500m) and the fact that the Typhoon only has 150 rounds it's not going to be easy. You have about 6 seconds to acquire the (very small) target and shoot it down even at Typhoon minimum control speeds of ~250 knots.
In WW2 the original Hawker Tempests (follow on to the Typhoon) and late mark Spitfires found it difficult to shoot down V1s due to the small size.
For the trolls, I have both flying experience and 20+ years working with the RAF.
Re: Cannon
Grapeshot would change your odds.
Re: Cannon
An array of tethered hot-air balloons staffed by gentlemen with blunderbusses
Re: Cannon
>Typical drone speeds are ~100mph but a Typhoon or other military jet becomes difficult to control at speeds less than 250 kias.
Introducing the new Camel air defence fighter, featuring a fully analogue cockpit with unimpeded direct vision support and a dual redundant wing design
Am I the only one who was expecting sharks with laser beams? Almost certainly cheaper than $40k.
Yea, but the flying fish tanks are not so cheap...
Seagulls with laser beams !
Until someone one unwraps their fish n chips in the open... :)
For the trollers also ;) , I've had personal experience with a very large gull at Brighton where I ate less of my fish n chips than I desired. It didn't need the laser to win that contention for resource!
Failure
It's pretty obvious that after all these years and billion of dollars, directed energy weapons don't cut it. Probably because they can't direct enough energy fast enough to compete with a bullet or chunk of shrapnel in terms of damaging the target sufficiently to prevent it from completing it's mission.
Re: Failure
directed energy weapons don't cut it. Probably because they can't direct enough energy fast enough to compete with a bullet or chunk of shrapnel
[1]Keep still will you!
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2eKvh3q7ac
I found plans on the internet that use the guts of a microwave and a pringles can.
Didn't you try to use AI?
?
BYE
BAE says trials could offer cheaper way to counter uncrewed aerial threats
The aerial threats are crewed, just the crew is sitting somewhere in the bunker. BAE wants to develop a system targeting the arrows, but more effective way would be dealing with the archers instead.
Sure, knocking arrows out of their path seems cool and probably valid first line of defence. But if you lobbed old fashioned missile where the arrows come from, that would be much more effective and lasting.
It's probably ridiculous but $40,000 still sounds expensive to me. What's wrong with the cannon, or is that purely for ornamentation these days?