Saab Eyes Arming Gripen Fighter Jets With APKWS Rockets Against Drones

3 hours ago

9 1 minute read

Abone Ol

Saab is exploring arming the JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet with the advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) as a low-cost counter-drone option.

Observations from the Ukraine war — where cost-efficient capabilities instead of expensive missiles are better fielded against typically cheap but lethal enemy drones — have driven this move, the Swedish company’s executives informed Business Insider during the Singapore Airshow.

The team is looking for ways to integrate the APKWS, which uses Hydra 70mm guided rockets and is typically mounted on aircraft with multi-launch pods, into the older Gripen C and the latest Gripen E variants.

In addition, Saab plans to equip the fighter jets with a system that can fit multiple munitions onto a single hardpoint, enabling a single aircraft to engage more drones per sortie.

This development comes amid discussions earlier this month between Swedish and Ukrainian defense officials regarding the potential transfer of Gripen fighter aircraft.

Stockholm first offered Gripens in 2023, along with pilot training. However, the handover plans were suspended in 2024 to prioritize the delivery of F-16s to Kyiv.

In September 2025, Ukraine’s First Deputy Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Ivan Havrylyuk confirmed that Kyiv is set to receive Gripen jets, but did not disclose specific details about timing and quantity.

Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets — The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, which adds a laser guidance system to unguided rockets. Image: US Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Cody J. Ohira

Economical Option

Saab’s decision reflects a broader trend of equipping fighter jets with low-cost munitions to strike cheap drones.

Last year, the US Air Force modified its F-15E Strike Eagle to be equipped with the AGR-20F APKWS II, which can carry up to 42 precision rockets that can counter drone swarms.

BAE Systems is also exploring the potential integration of APKWS II laser-guided rockets onto the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet, complementing the aircraft’s advanced air-to-air missiles.

Modern combat aircraft are typically armed with missiles that cost around $500,000 to $1 million each, such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM.

Meanwhile, one APKWS round costs approximately $20,000 to $35,000, offering a more economical option against kamikaze drones like the Shahed, which is estimated to range from $20,000 and $50,000 per unit.

Abone Ol