U.S. to Enhance Jordan’s Precision Strike and Counter-Drone Capabilities with Advanced APKWS II Rockets.

The United States is moving to strengthen Jordan’s precision-strike and counter-drone capabilities through a proposed sale of APKWS II laser-guided rockets, identified by the U.S. Department of State on November 2, 2026. By converting standard 70 mm rockets into precision-guided weapons, APKWS II could give Jordan a more accurate and cost-effective way to destroy hostile drones, engage lightly armored vehicles, and strike ground threats, strengthening its ability to defend critical infrastructure and respond to emerging security challenges across the region.

The proposed U.S. transfer of APKWS II laser-guided rockets could give Jordan's armed forces a more precise, cost-effective weapon for engaging hostile drones, light armored vehicles and ground threats, reinforcing the Kingdom's defensive capabilities and military cooperation with Washington (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force)

The United States is advancing Jordan’s military modernization through a proposed transfer of advanced precision-guided rocket technology, potentially enhancing the Kingdom’s ability to respond to emerging aerial and ground threats. As of November 2, 2026, the proposed Foreign Military Sale involving the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II and related equipment, announced by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, highlights the strategic importance of American-Jordanian defense cooperation and Jordan’s growing requirements for affordable, precision-guided weapons.

APKWS II: U.S. Precision-Guided Rocket Technology for Modern Combat Operations

Developed by BAE Systems in cooperation with the U.S. military, the APKWS II is a combat-proven precision-guided weapon designed to transform conventional 70 mm (2.75-inch) Hydra rockets into highly accurate munitions. The system incorporates a WGU-59-series mid-body guidance section equipped with Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS) technology, positioned between an MK66 Mod 4 rocket motor and a compatible high-explosive warhead, such as the M151 or MK152. By tracking laser energy reflected from a designated target, the APKWS II enables precise engagements against lightly armored vehicles, hostile positions and, when configured with suitable proximity fuzes, unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Its modular architecture supports integration with compatible rocket launchers, targeting systems and aircraft fire-control equipment. Depending on the operational configuration, supporting components can include rocket motors, warheads, fuzes, LAU-131-series launcher pods, testing equipment, spare parts, personnel training and technical assistance. These elements are essential to ensuring reliable employment and long-term operational readiness, although their inclusion in Jordan’s specific proposed acquisition depends on the officially approved equipment package.

Related Topic: U.S. Clears Major $364M Air-to-Air APKWS II Guided Rocket Package for Italy’s Counter-Drone Defense

One of the principal advantages of APKWS II is its ability to deliver precision effects at a substantially lower cost than many conventional guided missiles. The weapon provides a practical solution for engaging smaller and less heavily protected targets without unnecessarily expending larger air-to-ground missiles or high-value air-to-air interceptors. In particular, air-to-air configurations equipped with appropriate proximity fuzes offer an increasingly relevant counter-drone capability, enabling suitably configured combat aircraft to intercept certain hostile unmanned aircraft while preserving more sophisticated missile inventories for higher-priority threats.

The U.S. Air Force has already demonstrated this operational concept through the integration and employment of APKWS-equipped F-16 fighters, including the AGR-20F variant developed for aerial-target engagements. However, effectiveness depends on successful target detection, tracking, laser designation and aircraft-specific integration. For Jordan, these characteristics could provide a more economical means of countering hostile drones, reinforcing border-security operations and supporting close air support missions while reducing the risk of unintended collateral damage. The weapon’s combination of precision, flexibility and comparatively favorable cost-per-engagement characteristics makes it particularly relevant to modern operations against asymmetric threats.

Jordanian F-16 Fighters Emerge as Leading Candidates for APKWS II Integration

The Royal Jordanian Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet represents a particularly credible candidate for future APKWS II integration, especially if the proposed acquisition is intended to reinforce counter-UAS and air-defense operations. The weapon has already been fielded on U.S. F-16 aircraft, providing an established technical foundation for potential Jordanian adoption, although aircraft-specific certification, targeting-system compatibility and fire-control integration would still require assessment. Jordan’s acquisition program for advanced F-16 Block 70 fighters further reinforces the importance of this aircraft family in the Kingdom’s long-term air-combat modernization, but does not establish that these new aircraft will be equipped with APKWS II. Alternatively, Jordanian AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters could represent another credible integration candidate for precision air-to-ground missions, particularly because the AH-1F variant is among the aircraft types qualified for APKWS employment by BAE Systems.

Jordan also possesses direct historical experience with the weapon: in November 2015, the U.S. Navy confirmed the shipment of 110 APKWS units intended for integration on Jordanian CASA CN-235 light gunships, making Jordan the system’s first international recipient. However, neither the current operational status of those gunships nor the intended aircraft for the newly proposed acquisition has been officially established. From a strategic perspective, APKWS II could provide Jordan with additional options for protecting critical infrastructure, military installations and sensitive border areas against emerging aerial and ground threats. The potential acquisition would also complement Jordan’s broader efforts to develop layered counter-drone defenses, including its separately announced participation in U.S.-supplied Ku-band radar and Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (LIDS) programs. Although these capabilities have not been confirmed as directly integrated with APKWS II, they demonstrate the Kingdom’s broader investment in surveillance, threat detection and cost-effective engagement systems. By expanding its precision-strike options across suitable aviation platforms, Jordan could improve operational flexibility, maintain stronger defensive readiness and enhance interoperability with U.S. forces.

The proposed APKWS II acquisition reflects the continuing importance of American defense technology in Jordan’s military development and the broader security architecture of the Middle East. By combining U.S.-developed precision-guided weapons with compatible existing or future aviation platforms, Jordan could expand its operational flexibility, improve its response to asymmetric threats and establish a more sustainable balance between engagement effectiveness and ammunition expenditure. Subject to completion of the Foreign Military Sales process, confirmation of the final equipment configuration and the necessary platform integration arrangements, APKWS II could represent a valuable addition to the Kingdom’s precision-strike and counter-drone capabilities. More broadly, the initiative would reinforce the enduring defense partnership between Washington and Amman, supporting Jordan’s national security while contributing to regional stability and long-term military interoperability.

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Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.