Italy’s Air Force is considering a $364 million Foreign Military Sale from the U.S. to equip 5,031 unguided missiles with BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II guidance kits. The technology inserts between a missile’s warhead and motor, adding fold-out wings with laser seekers that convert the weapon into a precision-guided interceptor for less than €100,000 per unit.
The move aims to counter cheap drones without relying on expensive air-to-air missiles like the AMRAAM, which costs ten times more. The U.S. State Department cited homeland defense and deterrence as key benefits, while noting the deal includes launchers, warheads, rocket motors, and technical support. No contract has been signed yet, and the system remains under evaluation in Italy.
The likely platform for the APKWS is the Eurofighter, which Italy already uses for NATO air policing. In May, the Royal Air Force deployed the system on its Eurofighters after a rapid two-month testing and acquisition process, highlighting its cost-effective precision against aerial targets.
