On Monday, May 11, 2026, the U.S. company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) announced that, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force (USAF), it had conducted successful flight tests following the integration of WGU-59/B APKWS II laser guidance kits for Hydra 70 rockets with the MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) unmanned combat aerial vehicle.
Photo: GA-ASI
According to the press release, the live-fire tests recently took place at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR).
During the demonstration, multiple types and variants of firing profiles were presented, including against aerial targets. All firings were carried out flawlessly by MQ-9A crews using laser-guided rockets and a specialized launcher.
The effort supported requirements for real-time technological adaptation, moving rapidly from planning to integration and flight testing. The project also involved multiple Department of Defense stakeholders and their industry partners.
“We recognize the value that a system like APKWS brings to the MQ-9 aircraft as a tool to counter one-way attack drones,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “APKWS can increase the number of weapons the MQ-9A is able to carry, as well being able to carry new lower cost weapons. More than anything, this integration effort underscores how government and industry can collaborate to rapidly test and make new capabilities available to warfighters.”
Until now, the MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 has carried AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles and GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-38 JDAM, GBU-49, and GBU-54 guided bombs. The United States has also integrated its aircraft with AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and had planned integration of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, while more recently demonstrating the use of Switchblade 600 loitering munitions.
Outside the United States, aircraft of this type have entered service with, among others, Italy, France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Spain. Initially fielded as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms, these countries have in recent years decided to upgrade them from the Block 1 to Block 5 standard, enabling integration of the above-mentioned weapons.
WGU-59/B APKWS II
BAE Systems Inc. has been producing the kits for more than 13 years at its facilities in Hudson, New Hampshire, and Austin, Texas (BAE Systems to Continue Production of APKWS II Laser-Guidance Kits).
The core element of the WGU-59/B APKWS II module is the DASALS (Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker) guidance system, which is installed between the Mk 152 warhead with the Mk 435 fuze and the Mk 66 Mod 4 rocket motor and the missile’s fuel section. This converts 70 mm unguided Hydra 70 rockets into semi-active laser-guided anti-armor rockets.
To date, APKWS II has been integrated with AV-8B, OV-10, F-16C/D, A-10, A-29, F/A-18, OA-1K Skyraider II, Eurofighter Typhoon, and CN-235 aircraft, as well as UH-1Y, AH-1W/Z, AH-64, Tiger, MH-60R/S, Bell 407GT, and AH-6i helicopters, and TRV-150 unmanned aerial vehicles. They are fired from LAU-131A/A, LAU-68F/A, LAU-68D/A, and LAU-61G/A DRL (Digital Rocket Launcher) pods. Work is underway on integration with the Harvest Hawk module for KC-130J aircraft, as well as with V-22 tiltrotors, MQ-8C unmanned helicopters, and Strix unmanned aerial vehicles. They are also fired from ground vehicles, such as the ACV-30, or in the AGR-20A module variant for Arnold Defense’s Land-LGR4 Fletcher launcher.
On August 2, 2021, BAE Systems presented an improved APKWS II variant, characterized by a 30% increase in range and precision. This means that, when fired from helicopters, its range increased from 5 to 6.5 km, while from aircraft it increased from 11 to 14.3 km. Serial production began in the third quarter of 2021. The improved rockets were first delivered to the U.S. Armed Forces.
In an effort to rapidly test and make new capabilities available to warfighters, U.S. Air Force and GA-ASI collaborate on demo of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System using #MQ9A Reaper®.
Read the news: https://t.co/izLaZilq8X #APKWS pic.twitter.com/lm2Us4mdEi
— General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) May 11, 2026
See also:
