F-15E Spotted Packing Big Laser-Guided Rocket Arsenal Ideal For Drone Hunting

[Talyn]

The most versatile and capable jet in the US arsenal.

An F-15E test jet image points to turning the Strike Eagle into a counter-drone arsenal ship with 42 laser-guided rockets and eight air-to-air missiles.

F-15E Spotted Packing Big Laser-Guided Rocket Arsenal Ideal For Drone Hunting

An F-15E could carry up to 42 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets, which are now combat-proven anti-air weapons against drones.

www.twz.com

New Photos of F-15Es Testing Laser-Guided APKWS Rockets at Eglin AFB

At least two Strike Eagles have been employed in the tests, equipped with four or six LAU-131 pods which would allow to carry up to 42 rockets during

theaviationist.com

Infrared Seeker For APKWS Guided 70mm Rockets Unveiled

Adding infrared guidance to APKWS II rockets allows for multiple targets to be engaged more rapidly, especially in the air-to-air role.

www.twz.com

BAE Systems Unveils New APKWS II’s Infrared Seeker

The dual mode APKWS II rocket with both IR and laser guidance adds an improved Counter-UAS capability to fighter aircraft tasked to efficiently and

theaviationist.com

Infrared Seeker For APKWS Guided Rockets Is In The Works

Finally operationalizing 70mm rockets with infrared seekers could unlock new U.S. capabilities, possibly including the ability to rapidly engage aerial targets.

www.twz.com

 

[bangnburp]

Anyone else think we are behind the 8 ball when we launch multi-million dollar rockets against a 500 dollar drone?

 

[Talyn]

Only the lowest performance/shortest range FPVs are that cheap, and don't have the range to go way out to sea.

The more expensive/higher performance ones, like the Shahed-136s cost $20-50K & have a 110 lb. warhead, are threatening ships and could do alot more damage than a FPV that carries a block of C4 or an RPG warhead which could still destroy/damage a multi-million $$ piece of equipment.

 

[Bassbob]

Anyone else think we are behind the 8 ball when we launch multi-million dollar rockets against a 500 dollar drone?

I'd like to see us spend those millions destroying the people sending the drones. We can all pretend like we don't have that capability, but that's pure BS.

 

[Shibadog]

Only the lowest performance/shortest range FPVs are that cheap, and don't have the range to go way out to sea.

The more expensive/higher performance ones, like the Shahed-136s cost $20-50K & have a 110 lb. warhead, are threatening ships and could do alot more damage than a FPV that carries a block of C4 or an RPG warhead which could still destroy/damage a multi-million $$ piece of equipment.

Back a few decades when warships were armored a 110 lb warhead wouldn’t have caused a lot of concern.. Today, with 1’ thick aluminum ships…….

 

[Cedric]

I'd like to see us spend those millions destroying the people sending the drones. We can all pretend like we don't have that capability, but that's pure BS.

Yup. Great capability with the F15, but a defensive reaction instead of offensive action to take out their bases and logistics. We have been doing that but have learned very little from the sustained offensive actions of the Gulf War.