Ukraine shoots down Russian missile with APKWS for first time
Фото: building-tech.org
For the first time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have successfully intercepted a Russian missile using high-precision APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) technology. Until now, these weapons had only been used to shoot down Shahed drones.
This achievement was reported by Defense Express.
According to the media outlet, on January 25, the Ukrainian Navy released footage showing the crew of a naval vessel destroying a Russian Kh-59 air-to-surface missile. The missile was intended to strike infrastructure at the port of Pivdennyi.
According to analysts, based on the released footage, the Russian Kh-59 missile was intercepted using APKWS technology. This appears to be the first publicly reported instance of the Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully using APKWS to shoot down a missile.
Previously, it was known that the Ukrainian military had used APKWS to shoot down Shahed drones, but not missiles.
What is known about APKWS
The APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) is a high-precision weapon system that converts unguided 70-mm Hydra 70 rockets into guided munitions by integrating a semi-active laser guidance unit.
Germany first announced the transfer of APKWS missiles to Ukraine in 2023, with the initial footage of their use emerging in the summer of that year. Notably, these missiles are employed in Vampire systems, of which 14 were ordered for Ukraine's Defense Forces as part of international defense assistance.
In addition, the United States planned in 2023 to send experimental weapons to Ukraine designed to counter Iranian Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones, which Russia has been using to target Ukrainian infrastructure. These experimental systems are believed to be mobile laser-guided missile platforms, as announced in a recent US military assistance package.
On April 4, 2023, the United States announced a significant military aid package to Ukraine, primarily focused on strengthening air defense capabilities. The package included "10 mobile counter-unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS) with laser guidance."
By December 2023, Ukraine was expected to receive all 14 Vampire anti-drone systems ordered as part of US military aid. These systems are specifically designed to combat drones, including those like the Iranian-made Shahed models used by Russia.
The report also mentioned that the first batch of APKWS missiles equipped with proximity fuzes was scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks alongside the new shipment of equipment. These upgrades are expected to enhance the effectiveness of APKWS against aerial threats.
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