UK DEPLOYS NEW LOW-COST ANTI-DRONE SYSTEM TO PROTECT GULF STATES

Sun 17 May 2026:

Britain has deployed a new low-cost anti-drone missile system to RAF operations in the Middle East as the UK steps up its efforts to protect Gulf states.

The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) has been rushed into service, moving from trials to active deployment in less than two months, to be fitted on to RAF Typhoon fighter jets operating in the Gulf.

The new system has enabled the Royal Air Force to intercept and destroy targets precisely at a fraction of the price of standard air-to-air missiles.

This rapid transition follows successful air-to-air firing tests conducted by pilots from 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron in April.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said the effort will help the RAF shoot down “many more drones at a much lower cost.”

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He added that the Typhoon fleet remains the “backbone of UK and NATO air defence,” protecting both Europe’s eastern flank and partners across the Middle East.

The APKWS uses laser-targeting technology to convert unguided rockets into precision munitions, offering a sustainable way to counter the high volume of relatively cheap attack drones.

Alongside the airborne Typhoons, the UK has maintained ground-based air defence assets in the region, including the Sky Sabre system in Saudi Arabia and the Lightweight Multirole Missile in Bahrain.

The deployment follows a recent $860 million commitment to upgrade the Typhoon fleet, ensuring the aircraft remain operational through the 2040s.

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