Latest news with #APKWS
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Counter-Drone Weapons Diverted From Ukraine To Middle East Amid Rising Tensions, Hegseth Confirms
The U.S. diverted counter-drone capabilities away from Ukraine and to American forces in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed today during testimony on Capitol Hill. Exactly what systems were included is not clear, but laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket systems are at least part, if not the main focus of this diversion in materiel. APKWS, which transforms unguided 70mm rockets into highly precise guided munitions, has been a comparatively inexpensive weapon that Ukraine has used to defend its skies against drones and low-flying cruise missiles. However, as we were the first to report, they have also been adapted to the air-to-air role, with U.S. Air Force F-16s taking down Houthi drones using the guided rockets, which drastically expands how many drone targets a single jet can engage without rearming. APKWS II rocket pods are now cleared for the heavy-hitting F-15E, as well, and they are already forward deployed with them to Jordan. The contention over the distribution of these weapons comes as the possibility of an Israeli and/or U.S. attack on Iran mounts. Questions also linger about the supply of these air defense capabilities and the Pentagon's ability to restock what has already been expended. 'Senator, as you know, the Middle East is and remains a very dynamic theater,' Hegseth explained during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Wednesday morning. 'In the interest of putting America and Americans first, we're going to surge counter UAS systems to our troops and our bases and our places first, if we think there's a potential for a threat, and considering the environment there right now that has been and will continue to be a priority for us.' In his testimony, Hegseth did not specifically address what type of weapons or the exact nature of the threat. However, he was answering a question about media reporting that 'the Pentagon is or has diverted anti-drone technology intended for Ukraine to the US Air Force in the Middle East…' The exchange begins at the 1 hour and 14 minute mark in the following video. Hegseth's testimony came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told ABC News that the U.S. would divert '20,000 missiles – anti-Shahed missiles' earmarked for Ukraine in an agreement with the Biden administration to the Middle East. 'Without the help of the United States, we will have more losses,' Zelensky told the network's Martha Raddatz in Kyiv last week. There are no traditional missiles available in anywhere near that number, but APKWS is designed to be produced in large numbers and is specifically capable of countering Russian Shahed-136 long-range suicide drones. "We counted on these 20,000 missiles"Says President Zelenskyy, after learning that weapons previously approved by the Biden administration for Ukraine were instead diverted to the Middle East. — Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) June 9, 2025 Zelensky's comments followed a Wall Street Journal exclusive that the Trump administration 'is redirecting a key anti-drone technology earmarked for Ukraine to American forces, a move that reflects the Pentagon's waning commitment to Kyiv's defense.' The Pentagon 'quietly notified Congress last week that special fuzes for rockets that Ukraine uses to shoot down Russian drones are now being allocated to U.S. Air Force units in the Middle East,' the publication added, noting that the fuzes were designed for the APKWS rockets. What this is referring to are the specially-designed proximity fuzes that optimize the APKWS concept for counter-drone applications. In an internal memo last month, Hegseth 'authorized the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell, a Pentagon office that ensures commanders' weapons needs are met, to provide the fuzes to the U.S. Air Force, even though they were initially bought for Ukraine,' WSJ explained. 'The Pentagon told the Senate Armed Services Committee in the previously undisclosed message that the U.S. military's need for the fuzes was a 'Secretary of Defense Identified Urgent Issue. Hegseth's testimony on Wednesday sheds additional light on that story, which the Pentagon declined to comment on. Hegseth's explanation on Wednesday about the air defense munitions comes as reports are emerging on social media of evacuations and alerts are being issued at U.S. facilities in the Middle East. 'The safety and security of our service members and their families remains our highest priority and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is monitoring the developing tension in the Middle East,' a U.S. defense official told The War Zone Wednesday afternoon. 'Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the CENTCOM AOR. CENTCOM is working in close coordination with our Department of State counterparts, as well as our Allies and partners in the region to maintain a constant state of readiness to support any number of missions around the world at any time.' The U.S. embassy in Iraq is preparing for an ordered departure due to heightened security risks in the region, officials say. — Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) June 11, 2025 Alerts are starting to go out in the Middle East due to the security situation:– Dependents in Bahrain are authorized to leave. – US Embassy in Baghdad is preparing to evacuate. Tonight is when I would look for the Pentagon Pizza Index to be fired up. — TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) June 11, 2025 BREAKING: The U.S. Navy has reportedly placed its base in Bahrain on HIGH ALERT. Dependents are being authorized for something big brewing in the Gulf? — John Ʌ Konrad V (@johnkonrad) June 11, 2025 As we reported yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump has been presented with a broad array of potential military options against Iran should ongoing nuclear negotiations with that country fail. Israel is already reportedly moving ever closer to at least being in a position to launch its own strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The direct and indirect blowback from any such operations against Iran could be immense. Fears that U.S.-Iranian nuclear talks are on the verge of collapse have been steadily growing in the past week or so amid statements from both sides outlining potentially intractable positions. Iran's ability to continue domestic enrichment of nuclear material that could be used to produce nuclear weapons has emerged as a key stumbling block to reaching a deal. Top U.S. military commander in the Middle East General Kurilla confirms that he has presented military options on Iran to President Trump & SecDef Hegseth in House Armed Services Committee this morning. — Brian Katulis (@Katulis) June 10, 2025 As was proven in the U.S. battle against the Houthi rebels of Yemen and Ukraine's fight against Russia, the APKWS rockets would be a hugely valuable asset protecting against any Iranian or proxy drones and subsonic cruise missiles should the situation there devolve into open conflict. Each APKWS II rocket consists of a laser guidance package inserted between a standard 70mm rocket motor and one of a variety of warhead options. Originally designed as an air-to-ground munition, APKWS II is cleared for use on Air Force F-16C/D Vipers and A-10 Warthogs, as well as U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18C/D Hornets on the fixed-wing side. The F-15E has recently been added to that list. The precision-guided rockets are also part of the arsenals available for Marine AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters, as well as U.S. Navy MH-60R/S Seahawks and U.S. Army AH-64D/E Apaches. As an air-to-air weapon, however, it is limited to engaging non-reactionary, low-performance targets that fly along relatively steady courses. Still, the magazine depth they offer, combined with the lower unit cost of an APKWS II rocket compared to traditional air-to-air missiles, presents clear benefits. The latest variants of the AIM-120 cost around $1 million apiece, while current-generation AIM-9Xs each have a price tag around $450,000. The most expensive part of an APKWS II rocket is the guidance section, which costs between $15,000 and $20,000, with the rocket motor and warhead adding a few thousand dollars more to the total price point. As noted previously in this story, we broke the news that U.S. Air Force F-16s used the rockets to down Houthi drones during operations in and around the Red Sea in the past year. Last month, we reported that a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle down-range in the Middle East was seen with an air-to-air loadout that includes six seven-shot 70mm rocket pods, as well as four AIM-9X and four AIM-120 missiles. This came a week after TWZ was the first to report on testing of the rockets as a new armament option for the F-15E. As we noted at that time, the exact loadout we're now seeing on a deployed Strike Eagle turns the jet into a counter-drone and cruise missile 'weapons truck' with a whopping 50 engagement opportunities, not counting the internal gun. U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 30, 2025 APKWS rockets first appeared in Ukraine in May 2023, however, they were designed as a ground attack system. A video circulating online at the time showed at least one American-supplied up-armored M1152A1 Humvee with an Arnold Defense LAND-LGR4 four-shot launcher firing what are said to be Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II rockets. You can see that system in the following video, but its worth noting this was not for counter drone applications. APU for the first time showed the work of the APKWS systemThe footage of missiles hitting targets was recorded by a drone. — Lew Anno Support#Israel #Ukraine 24/2-22 (@anno1540) May 8, 2023 More importantly, the U.S. has also supplied VAMPIRE counter-drone system to Ukraine, which uses the laser-guided 70mm rockets with counter-drone fuzes as effectors fired from launchers mounted on Humvees. They began appearing in country in December 2023. This system has been used widely and has had great success, especially against the aforementioned Shahed-136 long-range Kamikaze drones that have ravaged Ukraine for years now. VAMPIRE and its APKWS rockets are also seen as more critical than ever to Ukraine as far more expensive and treasured surface-to-air missiles are increasingly scarce. APKWS gives Ukraine another proven way to defend key target areas against lower-end, but still the most prolific long-range aerial threats they face — the Shaheds — without blowing through prized SAMs. The moment of the downing of Russian Shahed-136/Geran-2 loitering munition by the units of the Ukrainian Navy over Odesa Oblast of Ukraine last loitering munition was taken down with the VAMPIRE system, which employs the APKWS rockets. — Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) March 11, 2024 We don't know if new VAMPIRE systems, or other counter drone capabilities, including electronic warfare systems, were also diverted to U.S. military in the Middle East, not just the rocket kits. It is not publicly known how many counter-drone-capable APKWS rockets were used by the U.S. Air Force against the Houthis or how many were provided to Ukraine. Citing operational security concerns, the U.S. Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) declined to tell us how many were expended against the Houthis. Because these are made up of rockets and a separate specialized guidance system, it is difficult to determine how many remain in U.S. stocks. The Pentagon did not immediately answer our question about the number provided to Ukraine or how many the U.S. still has. However, during his testimony on Wednesday, Hegseth hinted that the supply is a concern. Asked if the U.S. has the 'capability of resupplying or reinserting that technology into other places, including Ukraine,' the defense secretary said that remains unknown. 'We would have to review the capacity, but it's one of the challenges of all the munitions that we've given to Ukraine over the over these last three years, is we've created some challenges in other places,' he said. Contact the author: howard@
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US fighter jets used cheap laser-guided rockets for nearly half the drone kills during Operation Rough Rider
Laser-guided rockets were responsible for 40% of recent Houthi drone kills, a top US commander said. Gen. Michael Kurilla told lawmakers Tuesday that F-16 and F-15 fighter jets fired the APKWS rockets. Military leaders have stressed the importance of making air defense cheaper compared to the threat. US fighter jets used laser-guided rockets to destroy nearly half the drones that were shot down during the most recent big operation against the Iran-backed Houthis, a top commander told lawmakers on Tuesday. Gen. Michael Kurilla, who oversees Middle East operations at US Central Command, said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing that Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets fired by American F-16s or F-15s were responsible for about 40% of Houthi drone kills during Operation Rough Rider, the military's seven-week bombing campaign against the rebels. Kurilla was responding to questions about the implications of using expensive aircraft and munitions to fight non-state actors like the Houthis and whether the proliferation of hostile drones had led to more interest in cheaper defenses. "We absolutely need to be putting more work into directed energy — high-powered microwave," Kurilla said. He described the heavy use of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System as one of the "innovations" to emerge from Operation Rough Rider. "That's a $25,000 munition going against a roughly $50,000 or $100,000 drone — that is, an Iranian-provided drone to the Houthis," he added. The AGR-Falco Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, or APKWS, is an unguided Hydra 70 2.75-inch rocket fitted with laser guidance kits that turn it into a precision weapon. Made by British aerospace company BAE Systems, the slim munition can fly with a 10-pound warhead at speeds of 1,000 meters per second. One APKWS rocket is a fraction of the cost of an air-to-air missile that could otherwise be used to take down a drone. US officials have said an AIM-9, for instance, costs around $500,000; the newer AIM-120 is around $1 million. Military leaders like Kurilla have stressed the importance of bringing the cost of air defense to parity with the price tag of the threat, though this is not always possible. US warships operating in and around the Red Sea have been forced to fire expensive surface-to-air missiles to intercept incoming Houthi missiles and drones. SM-2 interceptors, which are on the lower end of the Navy's missile defense capabilities, can still cost upward of $2 million. Others are much more expensive, and the Red Sea fight has seen a high tempo of operations, raising concerns about future stockpiles. Kurilla said during written testimony that US air and naval forces in the Middle East have destroyed "hundreds" of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis into international shipping lanes and at Israel since October 2023. The Trump administration reached a cease-fire with the Houthis in early May, ending Operation Rough Rider. During the campaign, the US military bombed over 1,000 targets in Yemen. However, the rebels continue to fire missiles at Israel, which has retaliated with several rounds of airstrikes. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
US fighter jets used cheap laser-guided rockets for nearly half the drone kills during Operation Rough Rider
US fighter jets used laser-guided rockets to destroy nearly half the drones that were shot down during the most recent big operation against the Iran-backed Houthis, a top commander told lawmakers on Tuesday. Gen. Michael Kurilla, who oversees Middle East operations at US Central Command, said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing that Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets fired by American F-16s or F-15s were responsible for about 40% of Houthi drone kills during Operation Rough Rider, the military's seven-week bombing campaign against the rebels. Kurilla was responding to questions about the implications of using expensive aircraft and munitions to fight non-state actors like the Houthis and whether the proliferation of hostile drones had led to more interest in cheaper defenses. "We absolutely need to be putting more work into directed energy — high-powered microwave," Kurilla said. He described the heavy use of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System as one of the "innovations" to emerge from Operation Rough Rider. "That's a $25,000 munition going against a roughly $50,000 or $100,000 drone — that is, an Iranian-provided drone to the Houthis," he added. The AGR-Falco Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, or APKWS, is an unguided Hydra 70 2.75-inch rocket fitted with laser guidance kits that turn it into a precision weapon. Made by British aerospace company BAE Systems, the slim munition can fly with a 10-pound warhead at speeds of 1,000 meters per second. One APKWS rocket is a fraction of the cost of an air-to-air missile that could otherwise be used to take down a drone. US officials have said an AIM-9, for instance, costs around $500,000; the newer AIM-120 is around $1 million. Please help BI improve our Business, Tech, and Innovation coverage by sharing a bit about your role — it will help us tailor content that matters most to people like you. What is your job title? (1 of 2) Entry level position Project manager Management Senior management Executive management Student Self-employed Retired Other Continue By providing this information, you agree that Business Insider may use this data to improve your site experience and for targeted advertising. By continuing you agree that you accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Military leaders like Kurilla have stressed the importance of bringing the cost of air defense to parity with the price tag of the threat, though this is not always possible. US warships operating in and around the Red Sea have been forced to fire expensive surface-to-air missiles to intercept incoming Houthi missiles and drones. SM-2 interceptors, which are on the lower end of the Navy's missile defense capabilities, can still cost upward of $2 million. Others are much more expensive, and the Red Sea fight has seen a high tempo of operations, raising concerns about future stockpiles. Kurilla said during written testimony that US air and naval forces in the Middle East have destroyed "hundreds" of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis into international shipping lanes and at Israel since October 2023. The Trump administration reached a cease-fire with the Houthis in early May, ending Operation Rough Rider. During the campaign, the US military bombed over 1,000 targets in Yemen. However, the rebels continue to fire missiles at Israel, which has retaliated with several rounds of airstrikes.
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Biggest Arms Deal in History a Win for Trump
As President Donald Trump tours the Middle East, the United States and Saudi Arabia signed a historic $142 billion arms deal that according to the White House was the largest defense sales agreement in history. The U.S. has recently finalized a series of arms deals with Gulf allies worth multiple billions of dollars, signaling Washington's continued strategic tilt toward regional partners amid escalating tensions with Iran and rivalry with Russia and China. The U.S. is deepening defense ties with Gulf allies through multi-billion-dollar arms deals as Trump returns to the region, reaffirming America's military foothold in a region increasingly eyed by China and Russia. "The sales that we intend to complete fall into five broad categories: air force advancement and space capabilities, air and missile defense, maritime and coastal security, border security and land forces modernization, and information and communication systems upgrades," the White House said in a statement. Earlier this month, the State Department approved a $3.5 billion sale of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Saudi Arabia, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. In March, the U.S. approved the sale of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) to the kingdom costing nearly $100 million upon the kingdom's request to buy 2,000 high precision weapons, the agency said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said both countries had worked "to take on terrorism and all its manifestations today, with groups like the Houthis," as he met with Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, the Saudi Defense Minister, in February. The U.S. recently approved the sale of advanced MQ-9B drones to Qatar for nearly $2 billion, the first sale of its kind to the region, aimed at enhancing the defense capabilities of the country that hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East. Trump's ties with Qatar haver been boosted by its supporting role in brokering the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel. White House envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Doha on Tuesday evening in an effort to broker a new hostage-release and ceasefire deal, according to Axios. The relationship has recently come under scrutiny after Trump said he would accept a $400 million luxury plane as a gift from Qatar's royal family-though not yet confirmed by Qatar-to be used as Air Force One and transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation after he leaves office. As Trump headed to Riyadh, the State Department approved the sale of CH-47F Chinook Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.32 billion to the United Arab Emirates - another key regional ally. "The UAE will use these assets in search and rescue, disaster relief, humanitarian support, and counterterrorism operations," the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated. White House in Tuesday statement: "Underscoring our commitment to strengthening our defense and security partnership, the United States and Saudi Arabia signed the largest defense sales agreement in history-nearly $142 billion, providing Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms." Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, wrote on May 8: "The Middle East remains a key arena for geopolitical competition, and the fact that President Trump is making his first scheduled overseas trip in his second term to the Middle East sends a message that he is prioritizing the region." With Trump eyeing other big deals from Middle East partners, the U.S. is committed to enhance security and defense cooperation with key allies that also reinforce the strategic role of the United States. Related Articles The Stupidity of Law Firms Giving Up on the Law | OpinionSocial Security Users To Get $4,000 Boost in Payments: Who Is Eligible?Sky-High Corruption From Our Government of Gangsters | OpinionTrump Visits Saudi Arabia, Seeks $1 Trillion in Deals: Live Updates 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
13-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Biggest Arms Deal in History a Win for Trump on Middle East Tour
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As President Donald Trump tours the Middle East, the United States and Saudi Arabia signed a historic $142 billion arms deal that according to the White House was the largest defense sales agreement in history. The U.S. has recently finalized a series of arms deals with Gulf allies worth multiple billions of dollars, signaling Washington's continued strategic tilt toward regional partners amid escalating tensions with Iran and rivalry with Russia and China. Why It Matters The U.S. is deepening defense ties with Gulf allies through multi-billion-dollar arms deals as Trump returns to the region, reaffirming America's military foothold in a region increasingly eyed by China and Russia. Advanced Weapons to Saudi Arabia "The sales that we intend to complete fall into five broad categories: air force advancement and space capabilities, air and missile defense, maritime and coastal security, border security and land forces modernization, and information and communication systems upgrades," the White House said in a statement. Earlier this month, the State Department approved a $3.5 billion sale of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Saudi Arabia, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. In March, the U.S. approved the sale of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) to the kingdom costing nearly $100 million upon the kingdom's request to buy 2,000 high precision weapons, the agency said. A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade load an Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) training round for a live-fire exercise, Sept. 23, 2021, Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany. The APKWS is... A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade load an Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) training round for a live-fire exercise, Sept. 23, 2021, Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany. The APKWS is the newest laser-guided rocket system utilized by the 12th CAB stationed throughout Europe. More Pfc. Jesus Menchaca/U.S. Army/DVIDS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said both countries had worked "to take on terrorism and all its manifestations today, with groups like the Houthis," as he met with Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, the Saudi Defense Minister, in February. Unprecedented Drone Sales to Qatar The U.S. recently approved the sale of advanced MQ-9B drones to Qatar for nearly $2 billion, the first sale of its kind to the region, aimed at enhancing the defense capabilities of the country that hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East. Trump's ties with Qatar haver been boosted by its supporting role in brokering the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel. White House envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Doha on Tuesday evening in an effort to broker a new hostage-release and ceasefire deal, according to Axios. The relationship has recently come under scrutiny after Trump said he would accept a $400 million luxury plane as a gift from Qatar's royal family—though not yet confirmed by Qatar—to be used as Air Force One and transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation after he leaves office. Billion in Sales to UAE As Trump headed to Riyadh, the State Department approved the sale of CH-47F Chinook Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.32 billion to the United Arab Emirates — another key regional ally. "The UAE will use these assets in search and rescue, disaster relief, humanitarian support, and counterterrorism operations," the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated. What People Are Saying White House in Tuesday statement: "Underscoring our commitment to strengthening our defense and security partnership, the United States and Saudi Arabia signed the largest defense sales agreement in history—nearly $142 billion, providing Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms." Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, wrote on May 8: "The Middle East remains a key arena for geopolitical competition, and the fact that President Trump is making his first scheduled overseas trip in his second term to the Middle East sends a message that he is prioritizing the region." What Happens Next With Trump eyeing other big deals from Middle East partners, the U.S. is committed to enhance security and defense cooperation with key allies that also reinforce the strategic role of the United States.
