Russian military forces have recovered an intact American-made APKWS II precision missile after the weapon failed to explode upon landing in Ukraine.
Images published by the Telegram channel Voyenny Osvedomitel show a Russian serviceman posing next to the captured munition. The warhead of the missile failed to detonate, leaving the entire weapon intact after hitting the ground.
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II, which was transferred to Kyiv by Western nations, is actively used by Ukrainian military forces to combat incoming drones. The precision-guided rockets are notably integrated into the operational armament of F-16AM fighter jets.
The APKWS system transforms conventional unguided Hydra 70 rockets into laser-guided precision munitions. Each munition is equipped with a WGU-59/B guidance section that incorporates an inertial navigation system alongside an optical seeker head to track targets with high precision.
Precision guided rockets and air defence
The underlying Hydra 70 is a 70mm unguided folding-fin aircraft rocket originally designed in the United States and widely deployed across NATO armed forces. Standard unguided rockets are inexpensive but lack precision, whereas adding optical guidance units allows aircraft to engage small targets effectively.
Integrating guided rockets like the APKWS II onto fighter jets provides a specialized capability against unmanned aerial vehicles. Using guided rocket systems allows military aircraft to destroy drones at a fraction of the cost of firing advanced air-to-air missiles, preserving expensive missile stockpiles during prolonged aerial conflict.
The F-16AM is a mid-life update variant of the supersonic General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole combat jet. Armed with precision munitions and modern radar systems, the aircraft serves as a key air-defence platform capable of intercepting low-flying targets and strike drones.
Russian analogues and anti-drone strategy
Russian military commentators have also tracked the application of guided rocket technology in counter-drone roles. In April, the Telegram channel Voennaya Khronika reported that Russian S-8L missiles could be deployed against enemy long-range drones.
The S-8L is a precision-guided weapon developed from an unguided aircraft rocket, functioning as Russia's domestic counterpart to the American APKWS II. The base S-8 is an 80mm unguided rocket family used extensively by Russian attack aircraft and helicopters.
By converting unguided S-8 air-launched rockets into precision-guided S-8L munitions with laser seekers, military aviation can track and destroy long-range strike drones efficiently. Both systems reflect a broader tactical trend toward converting legacy unguided rocket inventories into affordable precision weapons for modern aerial combat.
