The U.S. Army has launched a search for a successor to its unguided Hydra-70 rockets, first fielded in the early 1980s. The Pentagon is now considering whether to boost Hydra-70 stockpiles or look for alternative systems of similar design.
Any replacement will need to strike targets at least 8 km away — or 7 km in a guided configuration — and be compatible with multiple warheads, including high-explosive fragmentation, flechette, and training rounds, according to The War Zone.
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What stands out most are the numbers. The U.S. Army alone fires more than 100,000 Hydra-70 rockets annually during training, against a current yearly production of around 330,000 units.
Over the past decade, a staggering 1.7 million Hydra-70 rockets have been expended in training, combat, and testing.
Such consumption rates raise questions about sustainability in a full-scale war — for example, against China.
Demand is also driven higher by the growing use of APKWS, the guided version of Hydra-70, increasingly employed against drones.
Global production, however, remains limited. Of the maximum produced, only about 230,000 go into U.S. stockpiles and export. This shortfall explains why the Army is eager to develop or procure an alternative — potentially one that performs even better.
Hydra-70 rockets are also in service with Ukraine, both in APKWS form against Shahed-type drones and from helicopters against ground targets. Notably, the U.S. recently approved the sale of 5,000 APKWS rockets to Nigeria,even though Ukraine urgently needs more.
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