Watch: First footage of Ukrainian F-16 downing Russian drones with laser rockets
The first footage has reportedly surfaced showing Ukrainian Air Force F-16AM fighter jets using APKWS II laser-guided rockets to intercept Russian drones.
According to reports circulating on a Russian Telegram channel, the video captures Ukrainian F-16AM aircraft equipped with two LAU-131/A rocket pods loaded with APKWS II precision-guided rockets in an anti-drone configuration, News.Az reports.
Until now, only still images had shown Ukrainian jets configured for such missions.
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The APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) converts standard unguided rockets into laser-guided munitions, offering a more cost-effective way to neutralize relatively inexpensive kamikaze UAVs.
A similar configuration was previously used by the United States Air Force in the Middle East to counter Iranian-made strike drones, as part of efforts to reduce interception costs while maintaining effectiveness against unmanned aerial threats.
By Nijat Babayev
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