US State Department approves $364M APKWS II rocket sale to Italy
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The U.S. State Department approved a possible $364 million sale of 5,031 air-to-air APKWS II guidance sections to Italy on August 21, 2026. The package includes launchers, rocket components, and support to strengthen Italy's counter-drone and short-range air defense. The approval was announced under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework.
Key Facts
- The U.S. State Department approved the possible sale on August 21, 2026, under the Foreign Military Sales framework.
- The proposed package includes 5,031 WGU-59B/B guidance sections for the air-to-air configuration of APKWS II.
- The estimated value of the sale is $364 million.
- The package also includes LAU-131 A/A launchers, Mk-152 high explosive warheads, Mk 66 rocket motors, proximity fuzes, WTU-1/B practice warheads, and inert motors.
- APKWS II converts 70 mm rockets into laser-guided weapons capable of engaging unmanned aircraft and low-flying cruise missiles.
Sale Approval
The U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Italy on August 21, 2026. The approval covers 5,031 WGU-59B/B guidance sections for the Single Variant Air-to-Air configuration of APKWS II. The estimated value of the package is $364 million. The approval was announced under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework.
Package Contents
The proposed package includes LAU-131 A/A launchers, Mk-152 high explosive warheads, Mk 66 rocket motors, proximity fuzes, WTU-1/B practice warheads, and inert motors. APKWS II inserts a precision guidance section into a 2.75 inch or 70 mm rocket architecture, transforming an unguided rocket into a precision guided munition. BAE Systems' guidance section employs Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker technology with seeker optics distributed across four guidance wings and a 40 degree instantaneous field of regard.
Counter-Drone Capability
The air-to-air APKWS II converts 70 mm rockets into laser-guided weapons capable of engaging unmanned aircraft and low-flying cruise missiles. The package would give Italian forces a more economical way to engage large numbers of drones and other low-end aerial threats without relying on scarce, expensive air-to-air missiles. For Italy and NATO, this capability could expand short-range air defense capacity while improving the cost balance against increasingly numerous and inexpensive aerial threats.
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US State Department approves $364M APKWS II rocket sale to Italy
