Italy eyes US tech for souping up dumb missiles into drone interceptors
ROME — The Italian Air Force is mulling the purchase of U.S. technology that turns cheap unguided missiles into precision weapons, offering a low-cost option for taking out drones instead of using pricy air-to-air missiles.
The potential deal was made possible by the U.S. Department of State’s approval of a Foreign Military Sale to Italy of 5,031 BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II guidance systems.
The APKWS, which can be inserted between the warhead of an unguided missile and its motor, features four fold-out wings which each carry a laser seeker, turning a missile that costs less than €100,000 ($117,000) into a guided weapon.
The solution would allow the Italian Air Force to avoid firing missiles like the AMRAAM - which costs ten times that - to destroy cheaply produced drones.
“The proposed sale will improve Italy’s capability to meet current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense and serving as a deterrent to regional threats,” the State Department said.
The FMS approval also covers launchers, warheads and rocket motors, as well as technical support, taking the potential deal to $364 million, the State Department added.
Sources in Italy told Defense News no contract had been signed and the technology was still being evaluated. The likely recipient of the APKWS would be Italy’s Eurofighter jet, which is already guarding Europe’s borders against drone incursions.
This month, an Italian Eurofighter taking part in NATO air policing mission in the Baltics shot down an unidentified drone which flew into Latvian airspace.
In May, the Royal Air Force announced it was already using the system on its Eurofighters after a rapid acquisition which saw testing and deployment completed in two months.
“The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) gives RAF pilots a highly accurate option to destroy aerial targets and allows them to engage drones at a fraction of the cost of traditional air-to-air missiles,” the RAF said at the time.
The Italian Air Force is considering the acquisition of 5,031 BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II guidance systems from the U.S. to enhance unguided missiles for drone interception. This potential $364 million deal aims to improve Italy's defense capabilities against regional threats. The APKWS technology would be integrated into Italy's Eurofighter jets, which are actively involved in NATO air policing missions.
- Italy is considering purchasing U.S. technology to convert unguided missiles into precision weapons.
- The U.S. approved a Foreign Military Sale of 5,031 APKWS II guidance systems to Italy.
- The potential deal is valued at $364 million and includes launchers, warheads, and technical support.
- The APKWS can be used on Italy's Eurofighter jets, which are currently engaged in NATO air policing missions.
- The Royal Air Force has successfully deployed the APKWS on its Eurofighters.