26-05-2025
US Air Force's F-15E Strike Eagle gets drone-fighting upgrade with 42 guided rockets
The US Air Force is experimenting with a new loadout for the F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that integrates low-cost, precision-guided missiles aimed at countering drones and cruise missiles, according to The War Zone. A Strike Eagle from the 96th Test Wing was spotted carrying six seven-tube launchers loaded with 70mm APKWS II rockets, giving it a payload of up to 42 guided munitions.
Combined with the jet's standard air-to-air missile arsenal, the loadout greatly expands Strike Eagle's ability to engage a range of aerial threats, particularly unmanned systems and low-flying cruise missiles.
The new combat loadout is intended for situations where traditional air-to-air missiles—limited in quantity and costing hundreds of thousands of dollars each—may be inadequate or too costly for high-volume engagements.
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II), also known as the AGR-20, was developed in the early 2000s to turn standard Hydra 70 rockets into precision-guided weapons. Built by a team led by aerospace company BAE Systems, along with Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics, the system keeps most of the original rocket parts—like the motor, warhead, and fuze—but adds a guidance unit in the middle, Army Recognition Group reports.
Designed to improve precision and efficiency, APKWS II helps reduce collateral damage and shortens ordnance handling time by 50 percent. Testing first began in 2002, but after uneven performance, the program was revamped and rebranded as APKWS II in 2005.
Early in 2025, BAE Systems rolled out an upgraded version of the APKWS II missile, now featuring an infrared seeker. This addition allows the missile to lock onto a target's heat signature after the initial laser designation, enhancing its ability to engage fast or maneuverable threats such as loitering munitions.
Since its introduction, APKWS II has become a vital weapon for the US military, evolving from a precise air-to-ground rocket into a flexible tool for attacking both air and ground targets. It has been used on many aircraft, including helicopters like the Apache and Viper, and jets like the F-16, A-10, and F/A-18.
Outfitting the F-15E—which offers greater range and payload than the F-16—with APKWS II transforms the jet into a high-endurance missile truck, capable of staying in the air longer and striking more targets in a single mission.
Furthermore, APKWS II has also been adapted for ground use through systems like VAMPIRE, sent to Ukraine, and the Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System (EAGLS), acquired by the US Navy in 2024 for counter-drone missions in the Middle East.
In 2023, combat videos showed VAMPIRE systems mounted on M1152 Humvees in Ukraine engaging Russian drones and reportedly intercepting a Kh-59 cruise missile over the Black Sea.
Thus, the improved APKWS II has already seen action a few months ago, when in March, the US Central Command released footage of F-16s using the missile to shoot down Houthi drones over Yemen.
