{"id":139169,"date":"2026-04-09T23:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=139169"},"modified":"2026-04-09T23:19:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:49:54","slug":"most-advanced-swing-role-fighter-jet-in-the-world-to-get-new-low-cost-counter-drone-solution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/09\/most-advanced-swing-role-fighter-jet-in-the-world-to-get-new-low-cost-counter-drone-solution\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Advanced Swing-Role Fighter Jet in the World to Get New Low-Cost Counter Drone Solution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LONDON-<\/strong> BAE Systems has successfully tested the low-cost Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) aboard a Eurofighter Typhoon<\/a> fighter jet from its Warton flight test center in Lancashire, England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The March 2026 trial, supported by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), involved a UK Royal Air Force (RAF)<\/a> Eurofighter test and evaluation aircraft striking a ground-based target at a British military test range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This test used the air-to-air optimized variant of the BAE Systems Inc. AGR-20A 70 mm laser-guided rocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It marks a key step toward giving the fourth-generation swing-role fighter an affordable counter-drone capability while preserving expensive missile stocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Eurofighter Typhoon Advances with APKWS Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BAE Systems<\/a> completed the first live-fire trial of the APKWS laser-guidance kit on the Eurofighter Typhoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The firing took place from the company\u2019s flight test development centre in Warton, Lancashire, England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A RAF test and evaluation aircraft launched the rocket and achieved a successful strike on a ground target at a UK military testing range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The APKWS system converts unguided 2.75-inch (70 mm) Hydra 70 rockets into precision-guided munitions by adding a laser-guidance kit. This combat-proven US product delivers high accuracy at far lower cost than traditional missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reported by Breaking Defense<\/a>, the trial provides valuable insights into integrating low-cost precision weapons, especially for counter-UAS missions where affordable interception options are in high demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richard Hamilton, managing director of air operations at BAE Systems\u2019 Air sector, stated that the trial demonstrates a game-changing capability and a cost-effective solution that would enhance Typhoon\u2019s already impressive range of weapons capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The activity was completed rapidly through close collaboration between BAE Systems teams and the RAF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The test forms part of broader capability enhancements planned for the Typhoon to increase its potency in current and future combat air operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A BAE spokesperson told Breaking Defense that the air-to-surface test was internally funded as part of the company\u2019s commitment to invest in advanced capabilities customers require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next steps include air-to-air testing with aerial targets. BAE has not disclosed further details or timelines yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strong interest exists in the APKWS option as operators seek multi-mission solutions for both air-to-surface and air-to-air roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent conflicts highlight the need for such capabilities. Iran\u2019s use of low-cost Shahed-136 attack drones, priced around $20,000 to $50,000, has forced defenders including the UK to expend high-end weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March 2026, a RAF Eurofighter from the joint UK-Qatar Typhoon squadron downed an Iranian drone approaching Qatari territory using an air-to-air missile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: eurofighter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Future Testing and Adoption Outlook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

RAF Typhoons currently carry AIM-120 AMRAAM, ASRAAM, and Meteor for air-to-air missions. Air-to-ground options include Paveway IV bombs, Brimstone 2 missiles, and Storm Shadow cruise missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APKWS offers a practical way to engage cheaper threats without depleting these inventories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eurofighter Typhoon operates with partner nations Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, plus export customers such as Qatar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding the low-cost APKWS capability could ease operational burdens across the multinational fleet once testing concludes and integration decisions are made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on\u00a0Telegram Group\u00a0<\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BAE Systems has successfully tested the low-cost Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) aboard a Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet from its Warton flight test center in England.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":148,"featured_media":104381,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8479,6761],"tags":[327,444,26698,2081,15284],"class_list":{"0":"post-139169","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-defense","8":"category-news","9":"tag-bae","10":"tag-defense","11":"tag-eurofighter-typhoon","12":"tag-ministry-of-defense","13":"tag-royal-air-force"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/148"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139169"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139179,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139169\/revisions\/139179"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}