{"id":11216,"date":"2026-05-11T23:17:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T23:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/air-force-mq-9-downs-aerial-targets-with-cheap-air-to-air-missiles\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T23:17:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T23:17:59","slug":"air-force-mq-9-downs-aerial-targets-with-cheap-air-to-air-missiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/air-force-mq-9-downs-aerial-targets-with-cheap-air-to-air-missiles\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force MQ-9 downs aerial targets with cheap air-to-air missiles"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An Air Force MQ-9 drone has downed aerial targets with a relatively inexpensive air-to-air missile, part of the Pentagon\u2019s quest for more cost-effective defense against drones.<\/p>\n

MQ-9 maker General Atomics announced on Monday that the Air Force had used a Reaper armed with laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, or APKWS, missile in a demonstration at the Nevada Test and Training Range.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognize the value that a system like APKWS brings to the MQ-9 aircraft as a tool to counter one-way attack drones,\u201d General Atomics President David Alexander said in a press release. \u201cAPKWS can increase the number of weapons the MQ-9A is able to carry, as well [as] being able to carry new lower cost weapons.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since Operation Epic Fury began in February, Iran\u2019s $30,000 Shaheds have damaged overseas bases, destroyed U.S. aircraft, and killed American troops. The U.S. military has used fighter jets armed with million-dollar\u00a0 missiles to down the one-way attack drones. An APKWS costs $25,000 to $40,000, according to think tank analysts.<\/p>\n

The $30 million MQ-9 is often used for intelligence missions but can be armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 Paveway IIs, GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway IIs or GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions, according to a service fact sheet.<\/p>\n

A General Atomics spokesperson referred questions to the Air Force, and the service did not immediately respond when asked for more details about the demonstration.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than anything, this integration effort underscores how government and industry can collaborate to rapidly test and make new capabilities available to warfighters,\u201d Alexander said in the press release.<\/p>\n

Nearly 40 U.S. aircraft, including an estimated two dozen MQ-9, have been destroyed during the war in Iran, according to The War Zone\u2019s analysis of open-source information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As General Atomics boosts the capabilities of its MQ-9, it\u2019s also competing against Anduril and Northrop Grumman to build Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force as drone wingmen alongside fighter jets.<\/p>\n

In March, the Air Force\u2019s lead buyer for fighters and advanced aircraft said the service was\u00a0 beating the Biden administration target of acquiring CCAs for a fraction of the cost of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.<\/p>\n

The Defense Department is seeking nearly $1 billion to buy the Air Force\u2019s first CCAs, 2027 budget documents released last month show. The service is planning to announce an Increment 1 production decision in the next five months.\n\n<\/svg><\/p>\n<\/div>\n