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The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $147.6 million sale of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) equipment and support to the United Arab Emirates, invoking emergency authorities to bypass the normal congressional review process under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act.
According to the notification, the UAE requested 1,500 APKWS-II guidance sections in a single air-to-air variant, along with associated, non-major defense items including LAU-131 A/A launchers, Mk-152 high-explosive warheads, MK66 rocket motors, proximity fuzes, WTU-1/B practice warheads, inert MK66 rocket motors, and related training, technical documentation, transportation, and logistics support. The principal contractor is BAE Systems, Inc., of Nashua, New Hampshire. No offset arrangements are currently known, and the sale would not require assigning additional U.S. government or contractor personnel to the UAE.
The department said the emergency determination—described as in the national security interest of the United States—permits the sale to move forward immediately, a mechanism that has been used by administrations of both parties in past contingencies and that has drawn scrutiny from some lawmakers for curtailing oversight.
The State Department framed the deal as supporting U.S. foreign policy and security objectives by bolstering the defenses of a key partner, improving interoperability with U.S. forces, and not altering the region’s basic military balance. It also said the UAE would be able to absorb the equipment into its armed forces without difficulty.
APKWS is a guidance kit that converts 70mm Hydra rockets into laser-guided munitions, providing lower-cost precision strike options. While traditionally used for air-to-ground missions, the air-to-air configuration can be employed for counter-drone and other short-range engagements.
