US Military Jets Shoot Down Houthi Drone with Laser-Guided Rocket

Recently, the US military released a video confirming the use of laser-guided rockets to intercept attack drones launched by Houthi rebels. The F-16V fighter jets deployed by the US military in the Middle East in 2024 have been using these precision-guided rockets to intercept drones, and this is the first time that combat footage has been made public.

On March 19, the US Central Command posted a video on its official platform showing a Houthi rebel attack drone being struck by an AGR-20 FALCO laser-guided rocket launched from behind. The drone was immediately engulfed in flames and turned into a fireball before crashing into the sea. This marks the first time that the unit has officially confirmed the use of these rockets in anti-drone operations.

General David Allvin of the US Air Force also confirmed the Air Force’s involvement in this interception mission, although he did not specify which type of fighter jet was used or the exact timing. Media reports previously stated that on March 16, Air Force fighter jets helped thwart an attack by Houthi rebel drones on a Navy warship but did not disclose the weapons used in the incident.

The AGR-20 FALCO was originally developed as an Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a type of air-to-ground precision-guided rocket. Based on the widely used Hydra-70 70mm rocket, the British company BAE Systems added laser guidance and control components to create the AGR-20 FALCO rocket. Weighing approximately 16 kilograms, with a maximum range of 10 kilometers and a strike accuracy within 2 meters, the AGR-20 FALCO is designed to target both stationary and moving soft and light armored targets. It can be launched from rotor-wing aircraft like the AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, as well as fixed-wing aircraft like the F-16, A-10, and AV-8B, and now includes small slow-moving aerial targets like drones.

In the past, the Air Force has used AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles or AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles to shoot down drones, but these missiles are expensive with the AIM-9X costing around $500,000 per unit and the AIM-120 exceeding $1 million. In contrast, drones launched by terrorist organizations often cost only tens of thousands of dollars, making it economically impractical to use such missiles against them. Therefore, the US military sought a more cost-effective way to intercept drones.

Hence, the APKWS rockets were modified into air-to-air rockets, making them well-suited for targeting slow-moving and less maneuverable drones. At a cost of approximately $35,000 per rocket, compared to air-to-air missiles, these laser-guided rockets significantly reduce the cost of intercepting drones, offering a high cost-benefit ratio.

In addition to cost benefits, another advantage of guided rockets is their high firepower density. The AGR-20 launchers are fully compatible with the Hydra-70 rockets, eliminating the need for modification. The launchers can accommodate 19-round and 7-round Hydra-70 rocket launchers, with 19-round launchers intended for armed helicopters and 7-round ones for fixed-wing fighter jets like the F-16. Furthermore, the F-16 can carry 14 guided rockets under a single weapon rack, in contrast to only being able to carry 2 AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, significantly boosting the fighter jet’s firepower and combat capabilities.

Apart from being used in air-to-air combat, the APKWS rockets have also been converted into surface-to-air weapons. With the Vampire launcher produced by L3Harris Technologies, this guided rocket has transformed into an anti-drone missile system. The modular installation of the Vampire system allows it to be mounted on any vehicle, whether commercial or military, increasing tactical flexibility.

The United States has pledged to provide Ukraine with 14 Vampire systems, with deliveries set to begin in 2023. The Ukrainian military released footage on February 11, 2024, showing the Vampire successfully shooting down a Russian Orlan-10 suicide drone.