US approves $2B sale of 20,000 APKWS II laser guidance kits to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $2 billion deal to sell up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS II) laser guidance kits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The approval comes amid escalating Iranian attacks on nations hosting U.S. troops in the Middle East and renewed tensions with Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Dual-Role Capability

The APKWS II system serves two primary roles:

• Air-to-air variant: A cost-effective weapon for intercepting large numbers of long-range one-way attack drones and lower-end cruise missiles
• Air-to-ground variant: Provides highly precise, low-collateral strike capabilities against a wide range of targets

Package Details

Saudi Arabia intends to purchase:

• 10,000 APKWS II air-to-air guidance sections
• Up to 10,000 air-to-ground guidance sections
• An undisclosed number of LAU-131/A seven-shot 70mm rocket pods
• Mk66 rocket motors
• Mk-152 high explosive warheads
• Proximity fuzes

The deal does not include the rockets themselves. The State Department notice did not specify which aircraft the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) will use to carry these munitions, though they are expected to be deployed on RSAF Eurofighter Typhoon and F-15SA fighter jets.

System Design and Variants

All APKWS rocket versions consist of three basic components: a laser guidance section inserted between a warhead option and a standard 70mm rocket motor.

The air-to-air optimized variant, designated AGR-20F and also known as FALCO (Fixed Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance), includes a proximity fuze and modified guidance and sensing algorithms.

Aircraft Compatibility

The APKWS air-to-air capability is being rapidly integrated across multiple U.S. military aircraft, including:

• U.S. Air Force: F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16C Viper, A-10 Warthog
• U.S. Marine Corps: Legacy F/A-18 Hornets
• U.S. Navy: F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (expected to receive capability)
• Eurofighter Typhoon (recently cleared for APKWS employment)

The War Zone (TWZ) was the first to report that U.S. Air Force F-16 Vipers were using APKWS IIs—originally designed as air-to-ground munitions—as a lower-cost option for downing Houthi drones. Ukrainian F-16s are now also employing APKWS against Russian drones.

Strategic Context

The approval comes as Iran continues launching missiles and drones across the region in response to U.S. attacks, and as Saudi Arabia and the Houthis recently exchanged strikes on airports.

State Department Statement

"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a Major non-NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region. The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense, and improving interoperability with U.S. forces, and other regional and NATO forces. The proposed sale will also augment Saudi Arabia's operational aircraft and enhance its air-to-air, and air-to-ground self-defense capability. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces."

U.S. Military Endorsement

U.S. Air Force leaders have praised the APKWS II system. Air Force Lt. Gen. Derek France, head of Air Forces Central (AFCENT), stated last year:

"It's our primary weapon against a drone. We've had multiple shoot-downs with it."

APKWS has since become the primary weapon system used by American fighters to intercept Iran's long-range one-way attack munitions, at a fraction of the cost of the cheapest available air-to-air missile.