RAF's new anti-drone missiles move from testing to deployment in just eight weeks
RAF Typhoons on operations in the Middle East have been fitted with new laser-guided anti-drone missiles – a feat which took less than two months to accomplish.
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System has now been deployed, with sorties being flown by IX (B) Squadron fighter jets.
The MOD says British citizens and regional partners will be better protected against drone attacks as a result.
How a rocket becomes a missile
Rapid procurement and testing work by the MOD and industry partners BAE Systems and QinetiQ has enabled the system to move from testing to deployment on operations in eight weeks.
March saw a successful test strike on a ground-based target, and RAF Typhoon pilots from XLI Test and Evaluation Squadron conducted successful air-to-air firing in April, demonstrating the system's ability to defend against drone attacks.
The APKWS uses a laser targeting system which turns unguided rockets into low-cost precision missiles and is able to take down enemy drones and other threats.
The MOD says the low-cost systems provides a more effective and sustainable means of countering the increasing threat of drones to UK forces and partners.
Securing safety - at speed
QinetiQ supported the integration of the weapon with the Typhoon before the trials to prove the engineering had been successful, also creating a safety zone at the range and providing realistic targets for the Typhoon pilots to train against.
Simon Galt, QinetiQ's managing director air, told BFBS Forces News how they were able to do this in just eight weeks, which is a much faster timescale than normal and something they think they can continue to do moving forward.
"We are 100% trying to move to a place where this type of pace becomes the norm for us and working with various stakeholders to make that the case," he explained.
"I think demonstrating something like this, where you can do a weapons integration in eight weeks safely and deploy to theatre, should give all of those regulatory stakeholders confidence that with the right partners in place you can get after this stuff quickly."
Defence Readiness & Industry Minister Luke Pollard said: "This has been a superb effort working with industry to test and deploy this system in a matter of months, which will help the RAF shoot down many more drones at a much lower cost.
"Our Typhoon fleet is the backbone of UK and Nato air defence, with the RAF protecting Europe's eastern flank from Russian drone incursions and defending our partners across the Middle East."
Typhoons testing, Typhoons deploying
XLI Test and Evaluation Squadron is based at RAF Coningsby and is part of the Air & Space Warfare Centre, which is headquartered at RAF Waddington.
As the RAF's Fast Jet Test & Evaluation Squadron, XLI Squadron’s primary focus is Typhoon capability and the development of tactics.
IX Bomber Squadron, meanwhile, is stationed at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.
IX(B) Squadron normally provides specialist adversary, or aggressor, training to frontline units.
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