Exclusive: U.S. Air Force Tests F-15E Fighter Jet with 42 APKWS II Rockets to Boost Defense Against Aerial Drones.

On May 22, 2025, The Merge published imagery of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle undergoing flight testing with an underwing loadout of 42 APKWS II 70 mm guided rockets, marking a substantial increase in munition capacity. Compared to the typical six air-to-air missile loadout, the integration of APKWS II enables the F-15E to carry up to 42 guided rockets, potentially increasing the number of engagement opportunities by a factor of seven against unmanned aerial systems and cruise missiles. 
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The integration of APKWS II rockets enables the F-15E to carry up to 42 guided rockets, potentially increasing the number of engagement opportunities by a factor of seven against unmanned aerial systems and cruise missiles. (Picture source: X account The Merge)

This new combat configuration of U.S. air Force F-15E fighter jet is designed to address scenarios in which traditional air-to-air missiles, limited in magazine depth and costing hundreds of thousands of dollars each, may prove insufficient or prohibitively expensive for large-volume engagements.

The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II), designated AGR-20, was developed in the early 2000s to convert standard Hydra 70 unguided rockets into semi-active laser-guided munitions. Created by a BAE Systems-led team including Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics, APKWS II retains key Hydra 70 components, motors, warheads, and fuzes, while incorporating the WGU-59/B mid-body guidance unit. This unit houses Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS) optics embedded in four control canards, which deploy 0.5 seconds after launch to steer the rocket toward a laser-designated target. At roughly one-third the cost and weight of traditional laser-guided weapons, APKWS II reduces collateral damage risk and halves ordnance handling time. Initial operational testing began in 2002, but after mixed results, the program was restructured as APKWS II in 2005. Full-rate production began in 2012 following successful demonstrations, and more than 50,000 units have since been produced at a unit cost of approximately $22,000.

Since its fielding, APKWS II has seen widespread operational use and progressive enhancements. A 2021 software update refined its flight profile to enable longer-range shots and improved engagement angles, increasing standoff capability by roughly 30%. In June 2021, a proximity-fuzed APKWS II successfully intercepted a Class 2 unmanned aerial system, confirming its utility in counter-UAS roles. The FALCO upgrade (Fixed Wing, Air-Launched, Counter-UAS Ordnance) tailored the rocket for air-to-air missions, particularly against slow or non-maneuvering drones. A significant advance came in April 2025 when BAE Systems revealed a dual-mode APKWS variant integrating a passive infrared seeker into the rocket’s nose, allowing it to guide autonomously after initial laser cueing. This pseudo-fire-and-forget capability facilitates faster successive engagements and reduces pilot workload, especially during swarming UAS or cruise missile attacks. The development phase of the dual-mode APKWS II is expected to conclude by the end of 2026, enhancing its value in high-density threat environments without requiring constant laser designation.

APKWS II has become a core asset across a wide array of U.S. military operations, evolving from a precision air-to-ground weapon to an adaptable solution for counter-air and counter-surface threats. Since entering operational service with the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012, the system has been integrated onto a broad range of platforms, including the AH-64 Apache, AH-1Z Viper, UH-1Y Venom, MH-60 Seahawk, AV-8B Harrier, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet, and OA-1K Skyraider II fixed-wing attack aircraft. APKWS II has also been adapted for ground use, including the VAMPIRE (Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment) system, delivered to Ukraine, and the Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System (EAGLS), procured by the U.S. Navy in 2024 for counter-UAS missions in the Middle East. These systems incorporate radar and EO/IR sensors with launchers to automatically detect and intercept low-cost aerial threats, such as loitering munitions. Combat footage from 2023 confirmed APKWS-equipped VAMPIRE systems mounted on M1152 Humvees operating in Ukraine, where they engaged Russian drones and reportedly intercepted a Kh-59 cruise missile over the Black Sea.

The APKWS II system has become a core asset across a wide array of U.S. aircraft, including the AV-8B Harrier, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet, and OA-1K Skyraider II. (Picture source: US DoD)

Initially opposed by the F-15 Special Project Office, which envisioned the aircraft solely as an air superiority platform, the F-15E Strike Eagle was championed by McDonnell Douglas, which had included basic ground-attack capabilities in its concept. The F-15E was conceived as a long-range, all-weather multirole strike fighter capable of operating independently, without the need for escort or electronic warfare support, and intended to replace both the F-111 and remaining F-4 Phantom IIs. In 1984, the U.S. Air Force selected the F-15E over the F-16XL, citing lower development costs ($270 million vs. $470 million), twin-engine redundancy, and superior growth potential. The first flight occurred on December 11, 1986, and production aircraft began delivery to the 405th Tactical Training Wing in April 1988. A total of 236 F-15Es were produced for the U.S. Air Force by 2001. After the 1997 McDonnell Douglas–Boeing merger, Boeing continued production and introduced export variants such as the F-15I (Israel), F-15K (South Korea), and F-15SG (Singapore). The F-15E airframe, rated for 8,000 flight hours and extendable to 16,000 with depot-level maintenance, remains in active service. While not currently slated for retirement, potential successors include the F-15EX Eagle II or a future sixth-generation platform.

The F-15E has played a pivotal role in nearly every major U.S. air campaign since its introduction. In the 1991 Gulf War, it conducted precision strikes on SCUD launchers, command centers, and airfields, achieving one air-to-air kill using a GBU-10 bomb against a Mil Mi-24 helicopter. Two aircraft were lost in combat, one to surface-to-air missiles and another under unclear circumstances in hostile territory. In subsequent operations over Iraq, the F-15E targeted radar and SAM sites during no-fly zone enforcement. During Operation Allied Force in the Balkans, it employed AGM-130 standoff weapons. In Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom, the aircraft delivered bunker-busting munitions such as GBU-28s and maintained long-duration presence with missions lasting over 15 hours. In Operation Iraqi Freedom, it targeted communication nodes, radars, and elite Iraqi military units, often performing dual roles in strike and reconnaissance. The aircraft also supported operations against ISIS beginning in 2014. However, air-to-air magazine depth has proven a limitation in certain scenarios. During the April 2024 Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel, one F-15E reportedly depleted its six-missile loadout and had to rely on its Vulcan cannon, unsuccessfully, highlighting the need for higher-capacity alternatives like APKWS II.

The current F-15E weapons suite includes a diverse inventory of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions accommodated by its 23,000-pound external load capacity. Air-to-air weapons include the AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and the upcoming AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM). For strike roles, it carries the AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, AGM-130, AGM-154 JSOW, and AGM-158 JASSM, along with a wide range of guided bombs: GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-24, GBU-27, GBU-28 (bunker-buster), GBU-31 and GBU-38 JDAMs, GBU-54 LJDAM, and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. Cluster munitions include CBU-87, CBU-89, and CBU-105. The aircraft retains its 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon for close-in engagements. Defensive avionics have evolved from the original TEWS suite to the more advanced AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), significantly enhancing survivability in high-threat environments. In this context, integrating APKWS II provides a precision-guided, lower-cost option with exceptional magazine depth, making it particularly well-suited for air policing, counter-UAS, and swarm-defense operations.

The F-15E was conceived as a long-range, all-weather multirole strike fighter capable of operating independently, without the need for escort or electronic warfare support, and intended to replace both the F-111 and remaining F-4 Phantom IIs. (Picture source: US DoD)