U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) published images from U.S. Army showing American military conducting APKWS II missile firing from EAGLS (Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System) counter-unmanned aerial vehicle system.
System testing occurred in early December last year during Sky Shield exercises in Kuwait these are air and missile defense exercises where, among everything, trials of means for combating threats like unmanned aerial vehicles were conducted.
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Regarding EAGLS system, this is a relatively new development from MSI Defense Solutions company. Two years ago, in spring 2024, an urgent agreement was concluded with U.S. Naval Forces for supplying five such drone combat systems worth over $24 million.
Overall, EAGLS in its purpose and armament is very similar to Vampire complex supplied to Ukraine within U.S. defense assistance framework and now helping Ukraine's Defense Forces shoot down Shahed-type drones and more.
EAGLS uses high-precision APKWS II missiles to engage drones, launched from four-round LAND-LGR4 launcher mounted on CROWS II remotely controlled weapon station. Can be installed on mobile chassis in this case, HMMWV.
Meanwhile, what qualitatively distinguishes EAGLS is its radar station specifically Leonardo's DRS RPS-40, which can detect targets at distances up to 10km.
Interestingly worth noting: in spring 2025, MSI Defense Solutions announced signing a strategic memorandum with Romanian OVES Enterprise. This agreement's purpose, among everything, is integrating Nemesis AI artificial intelligence system into EAGLS complex to transform it into a fully autonomous system.
Defense Express previously reported how much APKWS II missiles cost, which Ukraine and U.S. use to shoot down Shahed-type drones
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