• The US approved the sale of APKWS systems to Israel, Qatar, and the UAE, used as a cost-effective interceptor against drones like the Shahed.
  • APKWS converts unguided rockets into precision-guided munitions, with a cost of about $30,000 per rocket.
  • The system proved effective in Ukraine, where F-16 fighters use it to destroy dozens of drones in a single mission.
  • Israel and Qatar each requested 10,000 APKWS II units, while the UAE requested 1,500 air-to-air guidance kits.
  • The sales were approved via emergency procedure, bypassing standard congressional oversight, to strengthen allied defense capabilities.

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