US approves $992 million anti-drone system sale to Israel

US arms sale to Israel: 10,000 APKWS rockets to intercept Hezbollah drones

Amid the escalating use of drones operating with fiber optic technology in southern Lebanon, the United States approved a new US arms sale to Israel, including a specialized counter-drone system worth nearly $1 billion.

APKWS system to enhance Israeli air defense

The US State Department approved the sale to Israel of the APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) and related equipment, valued at $992.4 million.

Washington will supply Tel Aviv with 10,000 units of this system, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz. These precision-guided munitions convert unguided “air-to-ground” rockets into missiles capable of intercepting drones.

Their primary function is to counter various types of UAVs.

System capabilities and limitations against Hezbollah drones

Despite the effectiveness of the APKWS system, it is incapable of intercepting the fiber optic drones used by Hezbollah, according to Haaretz.

The newspaper explained that the system has proven effective against Iranian “Shahad” drones (a type of loitering munition), but was not designed to counter the small “quadcopter” type drones.

These drones pose a significant challenge to Israeli air defense in southern Lebanon. The system works by upgrading Hydra 70 rockets with small wing assemblies containing a laser guidance system, enabling precise target tracking.

Previous experience and cost difference

The United States has previously used this counter-drone system in Ukraine and the Middle East, supplying Kyiv with versions launched from F-16 aircraft to intercept Russian drones.

Washington also used it in the Middle East since October 2023. Cost is a significant factor in this military deal: each guided munition costs approximately $30,000, compared to about $500,000 for a Sidewinder missile and $1 million for an AMRAAM missile. It is also less expensive than Iron Dome interceptors, which cost $45,000 per missile.

Official documents also showed that the State Department used an “emergency” provision to approve the sale, bypassing congressional review to expedite the system’s delivery to Israel in light of the escalating threat.

Growing challenge.. fiber optic drones

Haaretz quoted Israeli officials as saying that Israeli air defense faces a growing challenge from drones that successfully evade conventional interception systems.

Israeli defense companies have tested various countermeasures, but the army has acknowledged that no system has yet proven effective against fiber optic drones that bypass navigation jamming.

These wire-guided drones are small in size, controlled via thin fiber optic cables, and have become a weapon used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah announced that it began using them for the first time during the fighting that started on March 2. Last Thursday, these drones resulted in the death of an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon and the injury of 12 others in northern Israel.

The US State Department said Friday that it approved the possible sale of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) and related equipment to Israel.

The estimated total cost is $992.4 million, it said in a statement.

“The proposed sale will improve Israel’s capability to… pic.twitter.com/UeTA2TAzat

— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) May 2, 2026