Laser missiles against the "shaheeds": how unguided Gydra-70 turned into high-precision APKWS (photo)

When more and more drones began to fly on the battlefield, there was a need to create means of destruction that would be cheap compared to the targets against which they will be used, according to a review on the "Military" portal. This issue was solved thanks to the APKWS and APKWS II programs, which were worked on by several American companies. The basis of the development was the unguided Hydra-70 missile, to which wings and a laser guidance system were attached, analysts explained.

The article tells that there was a competition between those willing to develop new weapons to receive an order from the US government. The first testing of missiles against drones took place in 2019 — five years after the start of work. Already in 2024, the American army used these weapons against Iranian drones. It turned out that the base of the missile is the Hydra-70, which was equipped with a guidance system and a homing head (PAGSN - a semi-active laser homing head).

The portal explained what features APWKS and APWKS II missiles have: how they are similar and how they differ. APWKS missile: One of the advantages of the new anti-aircraft missile is modularity: the guidance and control unit is inserted between the engine and the warhead. APWKS II missile: The new capabilities of the anti-aircraft missile "will significantly improve the rate of fire and, accordingly, the ability to repel mass attacks," the article says.

"Military" also reported that the price of the guidance unit is $15,000-$20,000, and the missiles as a whole are $25,000. The capabilities of the manufacturing company BAE Systems are up to 20,000 sets per year. It is also noted that the Armed Forces are using cheap anti-aircraft missiles starting in 2023: these are mobile Vampire systems that can launch a salvo with four guided missiles.

It should be noted that in June Focus published a translation of The National Interest article about "homemade" anti-aircraft missiles. It was about air-to-air R-73 missiles, which Ukraine began to use to destroy a swarm of drones of the Russian Armed Forces that attacked important objects. At the same time, the missiles were launched by the Osa-AKM air defense system, which usually fires standard 9M33 missiles.