Air Force Tests Laser-Guided APKWS Missile From MQ-9 Drone Against Aerial Targets
General Atomics announced the demonstration on May 11, 2026, as the U.S. military seeks cheaper ways to counter Iranian Shahed drones that have destroyed nearly 40 American aircraft since February. An APKWS missile costs between $25,000 and $40,000, far less than the million-dollar missiles currently used by fighter jets.
redir.folha.com.brAn Air Force MQ-9 drone downed aerial targets using a laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System missile during a demonstration at the Nevada Test and Training Range. General Atomics announced the demonstration on May 11, 2026. The test forms part of a broader effort to develop more cost-effective defenses against inexpensive one-way attack drones.
He added that APKWS can increase the number of weapons the MQ-9A is able to carry and can carry new lower cost weapons. U.S. aircraft, and killed American troops.
U.S. military has used fighter jets armed with million-dollar missiles to down one-way attack drones. An APKWS costs between $25,000 and $40,000, according to think tank analysts. The MQ-9 itself costs $30 million.
The MQ-9 is often used for intelligence missions but can be armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 Paveway IIs, GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway IIs or GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions, according to an Air Force fact sheet. U.S. aircraft have been destroyed during the war in Iran.
As General Atomics boosts the capabilities of its MQ-9, it is competing against Anduril and Northrop Grumman to build Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force. In March the Air Force’s lead buyer for fighters and advanced aircraft said the service was beating the Biden administration target of acquiring CCAs for a fraction of the cost of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
@DefenseOne reported the full details of the demonstration and its context within ongoing operations against Iranian drones.
