Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System sold to Israel, Qatar and UAE
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 5
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System sold to Israel, Qatar and UAE
4 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 5
The $8.6 billion sale, announced late Friday, bypasses congressional approval and comes as US and allied forces face mounting costs countering Iranian attacks in the Middle East.
The laser-guided rocket offers a cheaper option than using roughly $4 million Patriot missiles against far less expensive Shahed drones and some threats beyond Patriot battery coverage.
Originally adapted from a 2.75-inch air-to-ground rocket, APKWS was developed to strike lightly protected targets and is now being repurposed for air defence under wartime pressure.
As U.S. arsenals prioritize cheap interceptors, what new vulnerabilities does this create against peer adversaries?
Are cheaper missiles a sustainable fix, or will drone swarms soon overwhelm even low-cost defenses?
With Ukraine developing $1,000 interceptors, can the U.S. defense industry adapt fast enough to compete?