U.S. Navy MH-60s, Air Force F-16s Will Soon Fly With New C-UAS Missiles

By-products of the AGR-20F FALCO air-to-air projectile are being quickly prototyped to satisfy the immediate affordable interaction demand for one-way assault drone throngs phoned number in the hundreds.

A joint immediate demand determined in the united state Central Command location of obligation has actually greenlit BAE Solutions’ brand-new infrared-guided Advanced Accuracy Eliminate Tool System (APKWS) version for quick prototyping and manufacturing for first fielding no behind this loss, according to files released by the united state Flying force today.

The files recognize the Team 3 UAS danger– specifically in the center East– as extreme without substantial improvements to the present counter-UAS network. Without a quickly fielded air-to-air service, united state pressures on the ground and mixed-up would certainly deal with a “crucial susceptability” in the area, according to the released files.

The projectiles are prepared to be incorporated on the united state Flying force’s F-16 fleet and the united state Navy’s MH-60 fleet with a demand to accomplish a preliminary fielding ability within 24 months of the initial August 2024 JUON declaration.

The Joint Urgent Operational Requirement (JUON), marked CC-0588, was provided in August 2024 by United State Central Command in reaction to “developing enemy risks” united state pressures deal with versus drones in the center East, specifically risks from Iran and its proxy teams as seen in the April 2024 drone assaults on Israel that led to the biggest counter-UAS interaction in background at the time.

The April 2024 document was later on exceeded in June 2025 with united state pressures throughout hundreds of square miles involving 1,200 one-way assault drones over the period of 2 weeks. Throughout the June 2025 battle, united state competitors used up thousands of air-to-air projectiles involving incoming drones, and sometimes involved drones with weapon systems. Assistance from orbiting united state Room Pressure properties aided in interrupting drone trips also.

The brand-new projectile initiative, made to alleviate the cost-capability and haul contours, fixate an “Air-to-Air Twin Setting” version of the AGR-20F FALCO rocket, a variation of BAE Solutions’ APKWS rocketthat has already seen operational use as a counter-UAS missile The updated arrangement includes a nose-mounted long-wave infrared (LWIR) candidate and a mid-body warhead geared up with a double risk-free closeness fuse. The brand-new candidate allows a handoff from laser classification to infrared homing, lowering the moment an aircrew have to preserve laser lighting. The minimized lasing time allows quicker involvements versus handling or massed unmanned airplane. The smaller sized size allows competitors to lug a loads or even more projectiles per sortie.

Adjustments to the standard Took care of Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Airplane Solutions Ordnance (FALCO) APKWS rocket objective to supply a “lower-cost system in great deals to beat throngs (possibly numbering in the hundreds) of lower-cost Team 3 UAS”, according to the files.

BAE Solution was chosen as the leading service amongst 43 participants to a Flying force Ask for Details provided in March 2025. The business’s work with creating counter-UAS options from its APKWS tool system helped U.S. forces defend commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait in 2023 and 2024.

The business will certainly create, fully grown, and supply updated parts to sustain 300 model projectiles under the agreement. 100 projectiles are slated for assimilation and screening occasions and 200 will certainly act as functional leave-behinds to promote functional analysis and backup usage in the center East.

The message U.S. Navy MH-60s, Air Force F-16s Will Soon Fly With New C-UAS Missiles showed up initially on Naval News.