A US Air Force A-10C Warthog has returned from a Middle East deployment displaying drone kill markings, confirming the combat use of laser-guided APKWS II rockets in an air-to-air role against drones, reports The WarZone. The aircraft from the 124th Fighter Wing likely engaged Iranian-made Shahed drones during its CENTCOM mission, showcasing a new counter-drone capability as part of a broader shift in US tactics. APKWS II rockets offer a low-cost, high-capacity alternative to traditional missiles, making the A-10 an effective, if temporary, drone hunter despite its lack of radar. The A-10 is scheduled for retirement by the end of FY2026. They write:
At least one U.S. Air Force A-10C Warthog has returned from a deployment to the Middle East with kill markings revealing drone kills. The evidence most likely confirms that the attack jets are now using laser-guided air-to-ground rockets as counter-drone weapons in an operational context. TWZ was the first to reveal that the A-10 has received the ability to employ the Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System II (APKWS II) in the air-to-air role, as you can read about here. The image of the jet in question was captured by @mhtplanes, who posted it to the social media site X. […]
TABOR61 (mixed the callsigns on the first flight ) arriving at PSM after a trip from Lajes! pic.twitter.com/pJwwJAgtJL
— Alex (@mhtplanes) October 10, 2025
TWZ reached out to U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) for an official statement about whether the 124th Fighter Wing had used APKWS II rockets in the counter-drone role while in CENTCOM. While the command confirmed the A-10s referenced were returning from CENTCOM, no further details were provided, “due to ongoing security concerns.”
However, as we reported back in July, we do know that the APKWS II, adapted for air-to-air engagements, is now a part of the A-10’s repertoire. […]
The APKWS II has the huge advantage of being able to deal with drones and cruise missiles at a fraction of the price of an air-to-air missile, which, even in its most inexpensive form, comes with a price tag of close to half a million dollars. The anti-air APKWS II costs less than a tenth of that.
At the same time, rockets provide a much-expanded ‘magazine capacity’ for aircraft, something that is of critical importance when faced by barrages of drones and cruise missiles. […]
After an illustrious career with the U.S. Air Force, it’s somewhat ironic, therefore, that the A-10’s combat swansong appears to be pitting its specialized capabilities against drones.
Read more here.
