STORY
The Royal Air Force has deployed a new low-cost anti-drone weapon on operations in the Middle East, with the Government saying the system will help protect British citizens, UK interests and regional partners from drone attacks. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System will be fitted to RAF Typhoon fighter jets and is designed to destroy targets precisely at a lower cost than missiles currently used for similar operations.
The Ministry of Defence said the system had moved from testing to operational deployment in less than two months, following work with BAE Systems and QinetiQ. A successful test strike on a ground-based target took place in March, followed by air-to-air firing by RAF Typhoon pilots from 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron in April. The system has now been deployed with 9 Squadron RAF Typhoon fighter jets in the Middle East.