en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Royal Air Force (RAF) has deployed a new low-cost anti-drone weapon system in combat operations in the Middle East to enhance protection for British citizens and regional partners. The system, known as the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APWKS), can be mounted on Typhoon fighter jets to achieve precision strikes against targets at a significantly lower cost than current missiles.

The UK Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with industry partners BAE Systems and QinetiQ, transitioned the system from testing to operational deployment in less than two months through a rapid procurement and testing process. In March, the system successfully completed a test strike against a ground target; in April, Typhoon pilots from the RAF's 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron conducted air-to-air firings, validating its capability to counter drone attacks. The system is now operational in the Middle East, deployed on Typhoon jets from 9 Squadron as part of efforts to protect the security of British people, interests, and partners.

Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, stated that this is a result of collaboration with industry, completing testing and deployment within months, helping the RAF shoot down more drones at lower cost. The Typhoon fleet, a cornerstone of UK and NATO air defence capabilities, is protecting the eastern flank of Europe from Russian drone incursions and defending partners in the Middle East.

The APWKS uses a laser targeting system to convert unguided missiles into low-cost precision weapons capable of shooting down enemy drones and other threats. Developing low-cost systems provides a more effective and sustainable means of addressing the growing threat of drones to UK forces and partners.

Simon Barnes, Group Managing Director of BAE Systems' Air sector, stated that the priority is to ensure the RAF and its allies have the advanced technology needed now and in the future to stay ahead of evolving threats. This capability demonstrates the versatility of the Typhoon and underscores its role as a sustained pillar of combat air power in Europe and the Middle East.

Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive of QinetiQ, stated that the team provides foundational support to the armed forces, from engineering expertise to live-fire trials, to deliver urgent capabilities ensuring the UK and its allies remain safe and combat-ready.

British aircraft continue to operate in the Middle East, with pilots and aircrew having logged over 2,500 flight hours since the outbreak of conflict in the region, equivalent to more than three months of continuous defensive missions.

Air Commodore Donal McGurk, Deputy Director of Operations for No. 11 Group, stated that he welcomes the rapid development and meticulous testing involved in deploying these missile systems on the Typhoon, which are a powerful addition to the air defence package already in use in the Middle East.

UK ground-based and helicopter-borne air defence assets are also on high alert to support Gulf partners, including the Sky Sabre system in Saudi Arabia, the Lightweight Multirole Missile in Bahrain, and the Rapid Sentry and ORCUS systems in Kuwait.

Weeks ago, the Ministry of Defence signed a multi-million-pound contract to purchase Skyhammer interceptor missiles for UK armed forces, designed to counter Shahed attack drones. In January, the Ministry committed over £650 million to upgrade the Typhoon fighter fleet, securing more than 1,500 jobs across the UK and ensuring the fleet protects UK airspace until at least the 2040s.

The current government is supporting the UK armed forces with the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, reaching 2.6% of GDP from 2027.

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