U.S. forces in the Middle East have deployed the advanced Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System (EAGLS) to counter unmanned aerial threats.
The system offers high-precision drone engagement and is built around a 70-mm rocket launcher that fires laser-guided munitions, including the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS).
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has described EAGLS as an adaptive and cost-effective counter-drone solution designed to protect forward-deployed forces.
EAGLS is a relatively new system developed by MSI Defense Solutions and rapidly brought into operational service. The platform integrates the LAND-LGR4 launcher with APKWS II laser-guided rockets, allowing drones to be intercepted at significantly lower cost than with conventional surface-to-air missile systems.
Conceptually, EAGLS is similar to the VAMPIRE system supplied to Ukraine. It integrates a remotely operated weapon station, an electro-optical and infrared sensor turret, and a compact active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
Last year, Ukrainian defenders even shot down a Kh-69 cruise missile using an APKWS laser-guided anti-aircraft rocket.
The system’s sensor suite includes the Leonardo DRS RPS-40 radar, which can detect targets at ranges of up to 10 kilometers and enables rapid engagement of low-flying aerial threats.
The combination of radar, electro-optical tracking, and laser guidance allows EAGLS to operate both autonomously and as part of a layered air defense system.
The rapid procurement process highlighted U.S. military concerns about the vulnerability of forward bases and logistical hubs to inexpensive drones.
The system is vehicle-mounted and designed for expeditionary operations, enabling it to accompany maneuvering units.
Using laser-guided rockets instead of radar-guided interceptors reduces the cost per interception and preserves more expensive missiles for more complex threats.
