U.S. Marine Corps Upgrades FA-18C/D Hornet Aircraft with APKWS II to Counter Drones.

The Marine Corps Aviation Plan 2026 confirms that the F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet will receive a high- density, low-cost counter-unmanned aerial systems and cruise missile capability, centered on an air-to -air variant of APKWS II. The upgrade is designed to keep legacy Hornets tactically relevant through their planned retirement around 2030 while easing pressure on newer F-35 squadrons.

Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps has formally prioritized a counter-unmanned aerial systems and cruise missile upgrade for its aging F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet, according to the Marine Corps Aviation Plan 2026 released in February. The service plans to integrate an air-to-air variant of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II, or APKWS II, giving the fourth-generation fighter a high-density and comparatively low-cost intercept option against drones and certain cruise missile threats. Marine officials frame the effort as a bridge capability that sustains Hornet lethality and relevance until the aircraft’s expected retirement around 2030, while supporting distributed operations and easing demand on F-35B and F-35C units.
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The integration of APKWS II into the Hornet’s arsenal builds on a capability that has been in operational development for nearly a decade. (Picture source: US DoD)

The F/A-18 A-D Hornet has served as a core element of Marine Corps tactical aviation for more than four decades. Designed as an all-weather multi-role strike fighter, it was intended to perform interdiction and close air support missions while retaining full air-to-air capability. The aircraft first flew in 1978 and entered Marine Corps service in 1983, replacing the F-4 Phantom II and A-7 Corsair II.

The A and C variants are single-seat aircraft, while the B and D variants are two-seat models. The B version is primarily used for training, whereas the C and D models conduct strike, tactical air control, forward air control, and reconnaissance missions. Production of the C and D variants ended in 2000. The U.S. Navy retired its F/A-18C from combat roles in 2018, but the Marine Corps continues to operate approximately 125 F/A-18C/D aircraft in active and reserve squadrons as a bridging platform to the F-35B and F-35C Lightning II.

The F/A-18 A-D is powered by two General Electric F404-GE-402 turbofan engines, each producing approximately 17,700 pounds of thrust. The twin-engine configuration provides redundancy and allows speeds exceeding Mach 1.7, with an operational ceiling above 50,000 feet. Maximum takeoff weight is approximately 51,900 pounds. Combat radius is about 1,089 nautical miles in a light air-to-air configuration with two AIM-9 missiles, while ferry range exceeds 1,500 nautical miles with three external fuel tanks.

Standard armament includes one internal M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm cannon capable of firing up to 6,000 rounds per minute, along with a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. These include AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), AGM-65 Maverick, Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), and various general-purpose bombs and rockets. This broad weapons inventory has enabled the Hornet to operate across strike, air defense, and maritime roles throughout its service life.

Recent upgrades include the installation of the AN/APG-79(V)4 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Compared to the legacy mechanically scanned radar, the AESA system provides improved detection range, faster multi-target tracking, and better discrimination of small radar cross-section targets such as unmanned aerial systems. This sensor modernization directly supports the aircraft’s evolving counter-UAS role.

The integration of APKWS II into the Hornet’s arsenal builds on a capability that has been in operational development for nearly a decade. In 2016, the U.S. Air Force rapidly fielded APKWS II as a low-collateral precision weapon, completing testing, integration, and deployment within six months of congressional approval. The system was certified and integrated on A-10 Thunderbolt II and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, demonstrating compatibility across fixed-wing platforms. Initial combat use followed shortly after deployment, confirming its operational viability.

APKWS II was originally designed to convert existing 70 mm Hydra 2.75-inch unguided rockets into precision-guided munitions through the addition of a semi-active laser guidance kit. The system was developed to fill the cost and capability gap between unguided rockets and the AGM-114 Hellfire missile at less than one-third of the Hellfire’s cost while providing a multi-shot capability. That cost-efficiency logic now underpins its application in the counter-drone mission.

The guidance section is modular and compatible with multiple warheads within the Hydra 70 family. These include the M151 high explosive fragmentation warhead, commonly referred to as the 10-pounder, and the M282 Multi-Purpose Penetrator warhead designed for light armored targets. This modular architecture has allowed the system to adapt across mission sets. In its air-to-air optimized configuration, designated AGR-20F, APKWS incorporates a proximity fuze and modified guidance algorithms to engage aerial targets such as drones and certain subsonic cruise missiles.

Effective range depends on launch conditions but generally extends several kilometers. The semi-active laser guidance requires continuous target illumination until impact. While this limits use against high-performance maneuvering fighters, it is well suited for relatively slow and non-reactive unmanned systems.

A key operational advantage is increased magazine depth. APKWS rockets are typically carried in seven-shot pods. Compared to a loadout composed solely of AIM-120 or AIM-9 missiles, this configuration significantly increases the number of available engagements per sortie. Given that an AIM-120 AMRAAM can cost close to one million dollars per unit, APKWS provides a lower-cost alternative for engaging low-value aerial threats without expending high-end missile inventory.

This development does not convert the F/A-18C/D into a dedicated drone interceptor. The aircraft remains a multi-role strike fighter capable of air-to-air combat, maritime strike, and close air support. The addition of air-to-air APKWS instead reflects an operational adjustment to the growing presence of low-cost unmanned aerial systems and the risk of saturation attacks.

The Marine Corps is expanding the Hornet’s engagement toolkit to address unmanned threats more efficiently while preserving higher-cost missiles for advanced targets. The integration of a mature, modular, and previously combat-tested precision rocket system onto the F/A-18C/D extends the aircraft’s utility in the final phase of its service life without redefining its fundamental role.