Swedish defense firm Saab is exploring arming its Gripen fighters with APKWS laser-guided rockets to provide an economical anti-drone capability. Executives highlighted that modern air combat increasingly requires cost-efficient tools to defeat low-cost threats such as loitering munitions. By adapting Hydra-based precision rockets for both legacy and next-generation Gripens, Saab aims to enhance sortie efficiency while reducing expenditure per interception. Compared to missiles that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, APKWS rounds are significantly cheaper, aligning better with the price profile of drones like the Shahed. Similar efforts by the US and UK to mount APKWS on aircraft such as the F-15E and potentially the Eurofighter reflect a broader shift toward scalable, affordable air defense solutions.
