(https://www.defensenews.com/#publisher)     (../../../../../../pf/resources/img/favicons/def/apple-touch-icon.png@d=143)  (../../../../../../pf/resources/img/favicons/def/favicon-32x32.png@d=143)  (../../../../../../pf/resources/img/favicons/def/apple-touch-icon.png@d=143)  (https://www.defensenews.com/pf/resources/img/favicons/def/safari-pinned-tab.svg?d=143)  (../../../../../../pf/resources/img/favicons/def/favicon.ico@d=143)   Italy eyes US tech for souping up dumb missiles into drone interceptors  (index.html)                       (https://d1voyiv1eh2vzr.cloudfront.net/)  (https://p.typekit.net/)  (https://use.typekit.net/)  (https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/)  (https://fonts.gstatic.com/)  (../../../../../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css2@family=IBM+Plex+Serif%253Aital,wght@0,300%3B0,400%3B0,500%3B0,600%3B0,700%3B1,300%3B1,400%3B1,700&display=optional.css)  (../../../../../../../use.typekit.net/azw8xnv.css)  (../../../../../../pf/dist/components/output-types/default.css@d=143&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../../../pf/dist/components/combinations/default.css@d=143&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../../../pf/dist/css/military-times.css@d=143&mxId=00000000.css)   Sections     Search     Sections Sections      (Defense News Logo) (https://www.defensenews.com/) (Defense News Logo)   (https://www.defensenews.com/air/) Air Warfare  (https://www.defensenews.com/land/) Land  (https://www.defensenews.com/naval/) Naval  (https://www.defensenews.com/space/) Space  (https://www.c4isrnet.com/cyber/?source=dfn-nav) CyberOpens in new window   (http://www.c4isrnet.com?source=dfn-nav) C4ISROpens in new window   (https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/) Pentagon  (https://www.defensenews.com/congress/) Congress  (https://www.defensenews.com/global/) Global  (https://www.defensenews.com/video/) Video  (https://www.defensenews.com/thought-leadership/) Thought Leadership   Search             Close            (https://www.defensenews.com/subscribe) Subscribe Now  (https://www.defensenews.com/air/) Air Warfare  (https://www.defensenews.com/land/) Land  (https://www.defensenews.com/naval/) Naval  (https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/) Pentagon  (https://www.defensenews.com/congress/) Congress Show Congress sub sections      (https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/) Budget     (https://www.c4isrnet.com/cyber/?source=dfn-nav) CyberOpens in new window   (http://www.c4isrnet.com?source=dfn-nav) C4ISROpens in new window   (https://www.defensenews.com/space/) Space  (https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/) Training & Sim  (https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/) Unmanned  (https://www.defensenews.com/global/) Global Show Global sub sections      (https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/) Asia Pacific  (https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/) Europe  (https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/) Mideast Africa  (https://www.defensenews.com/global/the-americas/) The Americas     (https://www.defensenews.com/industry/) Industry Show Industry sub sections      (https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/) MilTech     (https://www.defensenews.com/interviews/) Interviews  (https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/) Opinion  (https://www.defensenews.com/top-100/) Top 100 Companies  (https://www.defensenews.com/video/) Video Show Video sub sections      (https://www.defensenews.com/video/dntv/) Defense News Weekly  (https://www.defensenews.com/video/money-minute/) Money Minute     (https://www.defensenews.com/outlook/) Outlook  (https://www.defensenews.com/press-release/) Press Releases  (https://www.defensenews.com/thought-leadership/) Thought Leadership Show Thought Leadership sub sections      (https://hub.sightlinemediagroup.com/market-intel/) Whitepapers & eBooksOpens in new window   (https://www.defensenews.com/special-coverage/) DSDs & SMRsOpens in new window   (https://www.defensenews.com/events/) WebcastsOpens in new window   (https://www.defensenews.com/events/) EventsOpens in new window      (https://link.defensenews.com/join/5ba/signup-newsletters?source=dfn-nav) NewslettersOpens in new window   (https://www.defensenews.com/events) Events Calendar  (https://www.defensenews.com/native/) Native  (https://www.defensenews.com/ebb/) Early Bird Brief  (https://defensenews-va.newsmemory.com/) Digital EditionOpens in new window          Featured: (https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/farnborough/) Coverage: Farnborough Airshow  (https://defensenewsindex.com/2026-strategic-architects/) 2026 Strategic Architects List  (https://www.defensenews.com/home/2026/06/02/celebrating-40-years-of-defense-news/) 40 Years of Defense News                   (https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe) Europe    Italy eyes US tech for souping up dumb missiles into drone interceptors By (https://www.defensenews.com/author/tom-kington) Tom Kington     Aug 24, 2026, 04:12 PM                                ()    An Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser guidance kit is displayed at the BAE Systems stand at  Farnborough International Airshow 2024, England, on July 22, 2024. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)    ROME — The Italian Air Force is mulling the purchase of U.S. technology that turns cheap unguided missiles into precision weapons, offering a low-cost option for taking out drones instead of using pricy air-to-air missiles. The potential deal was made possible by the U.S. Department of State’s approval of a Foreign Military Sale to Italy of 5,031 BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II guidance systems.     The APKWS, which can be inserted between the warhead of an unguided missile and its motor, features four fold-out wings which each carry a laser seeker, turning a missile that costs less than €100,000 ($117,000) into a guided weapon. The solution would allow the Italian Air Force to avoid firing missiles like the AMRAAM - which costs ten times that - to destroy cheaply produced drones. “The proposed sale will improve Italy’s capability to meet current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense and serving as a deterrent to regional threats,” the State Department said.     The FMS approval also covers launchers, warheads and rocket motors, as well as technical support, taking the potential deal to $364 million, the State Department added. Sources in Italy told Defense News no contract had been signed and the technology was still being evaluated. The likely recipient of the APKWS would be Italy’s (https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/02/19/bae-says-its-eurofighter-pipeline-is-filled-until-first-gcap-assembly/) (https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/02/19/bae-says-its-eurofighter-pipeline-is-filled-until-first-gcap-assembly/) Eurofighter jet, which is already guarding Europe’s borders against drone incursions. This month, an Italian Eurofighter taking part in NATO air policing mission in the Baltics shot down an unidentified drone which flew into Latvian airspace. In May, the Royal Air Force announced it was already using the system on its Eurofighters after a rapid acquisition which saw testing and deployment completed in two months. “The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) gives RAF pilots a highly accurate option to destroy aerial targets and allows them to engage drones at a fraction of the cost of traditional air-to-air missiles,” the RAF said at the time. About  (https://www.defensenews.com/author/tom-kington) Tom Kington   Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.  Share:                             (https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe) More In Europe  ()     (/industry/techwatch/2026/07/20/trust-between-operators-ccas-starts-with-simulations-former-air-force-secretary/) (https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2026/07/20/trust-between-operators-ccas-starts-with-simulations-former-air-force-secretary/) Trust between operators, CCAs starts with simulations: Former Air Force secretary  Simulations and exercises will be key to boosting trust between operators and CCAs, according to former U.S. Air Force secretary Frank Kendall.        ()     (/home/2026/06/02/celebrating-40-years-of-defense-news/) (https://www.defensenews.com/home/2026/06/02/celebrating-40-years-of-defense-news/) Celebrating 40 years of Defense News  Since 1986, Defense News has been the authoritative voice for the world's defense decision-makers.        ()     (/air-warfare/2025/11/03/guardsman-learns-to-fly-autonomous-black-hawk-in-less-than-an-hour/) (https://www.defensenews.com/air-warfare/2025/11/03/guardsman-learns-to-fly-autonomous-black-hawk-in-less-than-an-hour/) Guardsman learns to fly autonomous Black Hawk in less than an hour  In a training first, an Army National Guardsman used a tablet to control Sikorsky's optionally piloted Black Hawk and plan its task during an exercise.        ([object Object]) ()     (/recap/ausa/2025/10/16/recap-highlights-from-the-us-armys-2025-conference-in-washington/) (https://www.defensenews.com/recap/ausa/2025/10/16/recap-highlights-from-the-us-armys-2025-conference-in-washington/) Recap: Highlights from the US Army’s 2025 conference in Washington  The Army continues to transform, with efforts focused on next-gen weaponry, long-range artillery, unmanned systems and much more.        ()     (/unmanned/2025/09/11/pentagon-stages-first-top-drone-school-for-operators-to-hone-skills/) (https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2025/09/11/pentagon-stages-first-top-drone-school-for-operators-to-hone-skills/) Pentagon stages first ‘Top Drone’ school for operators to hone skills  Industry and military drone operators flew tethered and untethered first-person drones through a course designed to test endurance and maneuverability.              Featured Video    (/video/2026/08/24/insight-on-the-art-of-scaling-up-missile-production-defense-news-weekly-full-episode-82526/) (https://www.defensenews.com/video/2026/08/24/insight-on-the-art-of-scaling-up-missile-production-defense-news-weekly-full-episode-82526/) Insight on the art of scaling up missile production | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 8.25.26        ()     (/video/2026/08/24/prioritizing-missile-production-how-can-the-us-build-back-stockpiles-quickly/) (https://www.defensenews.com/video/2026/08/24/prioritizing-missile-production-how-can-the-us-build-back-stockpiles-quickly/) Prioritizing missile production: how can the US build back stockpiles quickly?        ()     (/video/2026/08/24/china-copies-pentagon-funded-robot-dog-design-in-move-to-own-the-market-headlines/) (https://www.defensenews.com/video/2026/08/24/china-copies-pentagon-funded-robot-dog-design-in-move-to-own-the-market-headlines/) China copies Pentagon-funded robot dog design in move to own the market | Headlines        ()     (/video/2026/08/24/how-much-does-leasing-really-cost-you-money-minute/) (https://www.defensenews.com/video/2026/08/24/how-much-does-leasing-really-cost-you-money-minute/) How Much Does Leasing Really Cost You | Money Minute                       Trending Now (/global/europe/2026/08/24/two-us-tanker-aircraft-leave-bulgaria-a-month-after-deployment-upset-iran/) (https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/08/24/two-us-tanker-aircraft-leave-bulgaria-a-month-after-deployment-upset-iran/) Two US tanker aircraft leave Bulgaria a month after deployment upset Iran        (/global/europe/2026/08/24/italy-eyes-us-tech-for-souping-up-dumb-missiles-into-drone-interceptors/) (index.html) Italy eyes US tech for souping up dumb missiles into drone interceptors        (/news/pentagon-congress/2026/08/14/centcom-launches-multinational-attack-drone-task-force/) (https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/08/14/centcom-launches-multinational-attack-drone-task-force/) CENTCOM launches multinational attack drone task force        (/global/europe/2026/08/24/uks-burnham-to-visit-ukraine-with-plan-to-support-long-range-missile-production/) (https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/08/24/uks-burnham-to-visit-ukraine-with-plan-to-support-long-range-missile-production/) UK’s Burnham to visit Ukraine with plan to support long-range missile production        (/global/asia-pacific/2026/08/21/india-seeks-role-in-frances-sixth-generation-fighter-program/) (https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/08/21/india-seeks-role-in-frances-sixth-generation-fighter-program/) India seeks role in France’s sixth-generation fighter program                         (https://www.facebook.com/DefenseNews)   Facebook page  (https://twitter.com/defense_news)   Twitter feed  (https://www.defensenews.com/m/rss/)   RSS feed    Defense News © 2026  Terms of Use (https://www.defensenews.com/m/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy  (https://www.defensenews.com/m/terms-of-services/) Terms of Service    Get Us (https://www.defensenews.com/subscribe) Subscribe Now  (https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/) NewslettersOpens in new window   (https://www.defensenews.com/events/) EventsOpens in new window   (https://www.defensenews.com/m/defense-news-rss-feeds/) RSS FeedsOpens in new window   (https://subscribe.sightlinemg.com/collections) Shop MerchOpens in new window     Contact Us (https://www.defensenews.com/m/advertising/) Advertise  (https://www.defensenews.com/m/contact-us/) General Contacts, Subscription Services  (https://www.defensenews.com/editorial-contacts/) Editorial Staff    About Us (https://www.defensenews.com/m/about-us/) About Us  (https://boards.greenhouse.io/sightlinemediagroup?gh_src=cpxe2a1) CareersOpens in new window      (Defense News Logo)         (gtm)