The US Air Force has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth up to $145 million to develop and deliver an infrared-guided air-to-air counter-drone weapon based on the APKWS rocket system. The dual-mode variant builds on upgrades made under the FALCO program and is designed to counter larger Group 3 drones threatening US forces in the Middle East. The system is expected to integrate onto F-16s and MH-60 helicopters, with production running through 2031.
