US approves $2 bln sale of 20,000 laser-guided rocket 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 Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Dual-Role Capability

• Air-to-air variant: Has become a critical, cost-effective weapon for shooting down large numbers of long-range one-way attack drones and lower-end cruise missiles.
• Air-to-ground variant: Provides extremely precise, low-collateral strike capabilities against a wide variety 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

System Design

All versions of the APKWS rocket 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 modifications to the munition's guidance and sensing algorithms.

Aircraft Integration

The deal does not include the rockets themselves, and the State Department notice does not specify which aircraft the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) will use. However, the munitions will most likely be deployed on RSAF Eurofighter Typhoon and F-15SA fighter jets.

U.S. Military Integration

An air-to-air APKWS capability is being rapidly added to an increasing number of U.S. military aircraft:

• U.S. Air Force: F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16C Viper, and A-10 Warthog are cleared to employ the weapon.
• U.S. Marine Corps: Legacy F/A-18 Hornets can now use APKWS against aerial targets.
• U.S. Navy: F/A-18E/F Super Hornets will likely receive the munitions as well.
• Eurofighter Typhoon: Recently cleared to employ APKWS.

Operational Context

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

This sale comes as Iran has been launching missiles and drones across the region in response to U.S. attacks, and Saudi Arabia and the Houthis recently traded 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."

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:

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

APKWS has become the primary weapon system used by American fighters to shoot down Iran's long-range one-way attack munitions, doing so at a fraction of the cost of the cheapest available air-to-air missile. The Saudis face a similar challenge after years of fighting the Houthis in Yemen and are keenly aware of the high cost of downing drones from fighter platforms.