The U.S. Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagle has been officially confirmed firing air-to-air optimized APKWS II (AGR-20F) rockets, transforming the fighter into a cost-effective “weapons truck” for drone and cruise missile defense. With the ability to carry up to 42 guided 70mm rockets in addition to AIM-9X and AIM-120 missiles, the Strike Eagle gains unprecedented magazine depth for counter-UAS (C-UAS) and counter-cruise missile missions.
This capability was rushed into service in 2025, with combat relevance proven earlier in the Middle East, where U.S. F-15Es and F-16s faced swarms of Iranian drones targeting Israel.
APKWS II: From Hydra Rocket To Precision Air-to-Air Weapon
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) is derived from the widely used 70mm Hydra-70 unguided rocket. By inserting a laser guidance section between the rocket motor and warhead, the APKWS turns into a precision-guided munition.
Key details:
- AGR-20F variant: Optimized for air-to-air engagements.
- Warhead: Equipped with a proximity fuze for better lethality against small aerial targets.
- Guidance: Features specialized algorithms for tracking low-performance, steady-flying targets like drones.
- Cost: ~$20,000 per rocket (compared to $450,000 for AIM-9X and $1M for AIM-120 AMRAAM).
The new dual-mode APKWS II in development will add an infrared seeker, providing pseudo-fire-and-forget capability, speeding up multi-target engagements.
F-15E: The “Weapons Truck” Concept
The F-15E Strike Eagle offers a unique platform for APKWS II due to its payload and endurance advantages:
- Loadout: Multiple 7- or 19-shot rocket pods, allowing carriage of up to 42 precision rockets.
- Complementary weapons: AIM-120 AMRAAMs for long-range and AIM-9X Sidewinders for close-in engagements.
- Persistent air defense: Extended loiter time and magazine depth make it highly effective for defending fixed sites or allied airspace against drone swarms and cruise missile attacks.
Compared to smaller platforms like the F-16 or A-10, the F-15E’s carrying capacity provides a far more sustainable counter-air presence.
Combat Proven Against Drones
- 2019: First disclosed air-to-air APKWS test on F-16C.
- 2024: Combat debut — F-16s used APKWS II to shoot down drones launched by Iranian-backed Houthis.
- 2024–2025: F-15Es and F-16s actively defended Israel against Iranian drone and missile attacks, often exhausting AMRAAM stocks. APKWS provided an economical alternative.
- 2025: CENTCOM released imagery of APKWS-armed F-15Es forward deployed in the Middle East.
APKWS has also been proven in the surface-to-air role, adapted for ground launchers to defend bases from drones.
Future Expansion And Multi-Domain Use
APKWS II rockets are currently integrated on:
- F-15E Strike Eagle
- F-16C Viper
- A-10 Warthog
Planned expansion:
- U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets
- Potential for rotary-wing and UAV integration.
With dual-mode seekers, APKWS II could be adapted for:
- Air-to-air engagements (drones, cruise missiles).
- Air-to-surface strikes (light vehicles, fortified positions).
- Naval applications for counter-UAS and swarm defense.
Conclusion
The integration of APKWS II air-to-air rockets on the F-15E Strike Eagle delivers a game-changing capability: a low-cost, high-capacity air defense solution for drone and cruise missile threats. In an era of massed UAS swarms and persistent missile strikes, APKWS II offers the U.S. and its allies a way to conserve high-end missiles while maintaining effective defensive coverage.
This evolution reflects a growing doctrine shift: using precision rockets as part of a multi-layered air and missile defense ecosystem, where cost-effectiveness is just as important as lethality.
