The US military’s Central Command has released a video of the AGR-20 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) destroying Houthi rebels’one-way attack munitions, illustrating a cost-effective way to destroy cheap unmanned air vehicles and one-way strike munitions.
The footage, posted on social media, appears to show two separate shoot downs, both over water and apparently recorded by an electro-optical/infrared sensor, highlighting the heat signature of the munitions’ engine.
In the first video the rocket explodes, sending the Houthi weapon into a tumble. The second video shows a munition bursting into flames after being struck by the APKWS.
The footage comes days after the US military launched a series of strikes against Houthi militants operating in Yemen.
The use of APKWS – basically a BAE Systems guidance system mounted on an unguided rocket – is notable because it addresses the cost curve imposed by cheap strike munitions, which can cost from $50,000-$300,000.
While slow-moving and using only rudimentary guidance systems, weapons such as Iran’s Shahed 136 offer a cost-effective way to overwhelm air defenses with large numbers. Russia has made wide use of the Shahed 136 in its war against Ukraine.
Such weapons impose a penalty on defenders, which may be forced to expend valuable, hard-to-produce air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles defending against them.
An APKWS, which is launched from a rocket pod, costs roughly $35,000 per round. This is considerably cheaper than the air-to-air weapons US aircraft have deployed in previous engagements with Houthi munitions.
Online sources suggest that Raytheon’s AIM-9X Sidewinder costs about $500,000, while the AIM-120D Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile is about $1 million.
The post did not offer details about the specific launch aircraft, but the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is operating in the region with Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets embarked.
Curiously, BAE’s web site does not specifically list the Super Hornet as being qualified to operate APKWS, although the previous F-18 Hornet is.
A company promotional video indicates that the weapon can be carried by over 45 aircraft and helicopters.