Blab Tech
U.S. Military Secures Advanced Proximity Fuzes to Convert APKWS Rockets into Drone-Killing Weapons
The United States Army announced on June 4, 2026 that it has ordered a new type of proximity fuze, the FALCO (Fast‑Acting Low‑Cost Optical) fuze, to be fitted to its Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets. The order is part of a broader effort to give the U.S. armed forces a reliable, cost‑effective method for destroying small, fast‑moving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in contested airspace.
The APKWS is a laser‑guided version of the 2.75‑inch M26 rocket that has been in service since the 1990s. By adding a laser seeker, the system can be directed to a target from a distance of several hundred meters. The new FALCO fuze is a mechanical proximity fuze that detonates the rocket when it comes within a few meters of a target, increasing the probability of a kill against drones that are too small or too fast for conventional contact fuzes.
The contract, awarded to L3Harris Technologies, is worth up to $98 million. The firm‑fixed‑price agreement includes options that could bring the cumulative value to the full amount. According to the company’s statement, the contract reflects L3Harris’s ability to produce the fuzes quickly and reliably, and to strengthen industrial resilience for critical missions.
A Melbourne‑based company is also set to supply mechanical proximity fuzes to the U.S. Navy. The company’s fuzes are described as “combat‑proven” and are intended to improve the Navy’s ability to neutralise small drones that pose a threat to ships and coastal installations.
The move follows a trend in U.S. defense procurement toward precision‑guided munitions that can be used against a wide range of targets. The AGM‑114 Hellfire missile, originally designed for anti‑armor use, has been adapted for precision strikes against high‑value aerial targets. The Hellfire’s guidance system can be switched to laser or GPS mode, allowing it to engage both ground and air targets with a high degree of accuracy.
Proximity fuzes have been used in artillery and missile systems for decades. A proximity fuze detonates an explosive when it is within a predetermined distance of a target, rather than relying on a simple impact or timed trigger. The technology can increase lethality by 5 to 10 times compared with contact fuzes, especially against elusive or fast‑moving targets.
Drone warfare has become a central element of modern conflict. The United States has used UAVs for reconnaissance, strike, and loitering missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. In recent years, the U.S. has also faced drone attacks from state and non‑state actors, including Iranian drones that struck Kuwait’s international airport in early June 2026.
The new fuzes are expected to be integrated into the APKWS system in the coming months. The Army’s procurement office said the upgrade would be fielded in units that operate in environments where small drones are a frequent threat, such as the Middle East and the Indo‑Pacific. The Navy’s procurement office noted that the Melbourne‑based fuzes would be used on ships operating in the Gulf of Aden and the South China Sea.
Experts say that the addition of a proximity fuze to a laser‑guided rocket is a logical step. The combination allows the rocket to be guided to a general area and then detonated when it is close enough to the target, reducing the need for perfect laser lock and increasing the chance of a kill.
The procurement of the FALCO fuze and the Melbourne company’s fuzes is part of a broader U.S. strategy to maintain technological superiority in counter‑drone operations. The Pentagon has repeatedly highlighted the need for cost‑effective, scalable solutions to counter the growing threat of small UAVs.
As of now, the U.S. has not announced any specific deployment dates for the upgraded APKWS system. The Army’s procurement office said that testing would begin in late 2026, with full fielding expected by 2028. The Navy’s procurement office indicated that the Melbourne‑based fuzes would be integrated into shipboard systems by mid‑2027.
The new fuzes also fit within the U.S. military’s broader emphasis on precision guided munitions. According to congressional reports, precision guided weapons account for a small fraction of total munitions fired but achieve a large share of successful hits. The Army’s use of the FALCO fuze is intended to increase that share for drone targets.
In summary, the U.S. Army’s order of FALCO proximity fuzes for APKWS rockets and the Navy’s procurement of Melbourne‑based fuzes represent a significant step toward improving the U.S. military’s ability to neutralise small drones. The upgrades are expected to be fielded over the next few years and will complement existing precision guided weapons such as the AGM‑114 Hellfire.
The procurement documents do not yet specify whether the new fuzes will be used in active combat operations. The Army and Navy have stated that the systems will undergo rigorous testing before deployment. The U.S. defense community is closely monitoring the development of these technologies as part of its broader counter‑drone strategy.
The new fuzes are a response to the increasing frequency of drone attacks on U.S. and allied assets, including the recent Iranian drone strikes on Kuwait’s airport. The U.S. government has repeatedly emphasized the need for reliable counter‑drone capabilities to protect military and civilian infrastructure.
The procurement of the FALCO fuze and the Melbourne company’s fuzes is expected to enhance the U.S. military’s ability to defend against small UAVs while maintaining cost effectiveness. The Army and Navy will continue to evaluate the performance of the new fuzes in field trials.
The U.S. defense community is also monitoring developments in other countries’ drone capabilities. The Russo‑Ukrainian war has highlighted the importance of drones in modern warfare, and the U.S. is investing in technologies that can counter the threat.
The procurement of the FALCO fuze and the Melbourne company’s fuzes is part of a broader effort to maintain U.S. technological superiority in counter‑drone operations, and the Army and Navy will continue to evaluate the performance of the new fuzes in field trials.
The U.S. military’s procurement of advanced proximity fuzes marks a tangible step toward improving its counter‑drone capabilities in a rapidly evolving threat environment.
The APKWS is a laser‑guided version of the 2.75‑inch M26 rocket that has been in service since the 1990s. By adding a laser seeker, the system can be directed to a target from a distance of several hundred meters. The new FALCO fuze is a mechanical proximity fuze that detonates the rocket when it comes within a few meters of a target, increasing the probability of a kill against drones that are too small or too fast for conventional contact fuzes.
The contract, awarded to L3Harris Technologies, is worth up to $98 million. The firm‑fixed‑price agreement includes options that could bring the cumulative value to the full amount. According to the company’s statement, the contract reflects L3Harris’s ability to produce the fuzes quickly and reliably, and to strengthen industrial resilience for critical missions.
A Melbourne‑based company is also set to supply mechanical proximity fuzes to the U.S. Navy. The company’s fuzes are described as “combat‑proven” and are intended to improve the Navy’s ability to neutralise small drones that pose a threat to ships and coastal installations.
The move follows a trend in U.S. defense procurement toward precision‑guided munitions that can be used against a wide range of targets. The AGM‑114 Hellfire missile, originally designed for anti‑armor use, has been adapted for precision strikes against high‑value aerial targets. The Hellfire’s guidance system can be switched to laser or GPS mode, allowing it to engage both ground and air targets with a high degree of accuracy.
Proximity fuzes have been used in artillery and missile systems for decades. A proximity fuze detonates an explosive when it is within a predetermined distance of a target, rather than relying on a simple impact or timed trigger. The technology can increase lethality by 5 to 10 times compared with contact fuzes, especially against elusive or fast‑moving targets.
Drone warfare has become a central element of modern conflict. The United States has used UAVs for reconnaissance, strike, and loitering missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. In recent years, the U.S. has also faced drone attacks from state and non‑state actors, including Iranian drones that struck Kuwait’s international airport in early June 2026.
The new fuzes are expected to be integrated into the APKWS system in the coming months. The Army’s procurement office said the upgrade would be fielded in units that operate in environments where small drones are a frequent threat, such as the Middle East and the Indo‑Pacific. The Navy’s procurement office noted that the Melbourne‑based fuzes would be used on ships operating in the Gulf of Aden and the South China Sea.
Experts say that the addition of a proximity fuze to a laser‑guided rocket is a logical step. The combination allows the rocket to be guided to a general area and then detonated when it is close enough to the target, reducing the need for perfect laser lock and increasing the chance of a kill.
The procurement of the FALCO fuze and the Melbourne company’s fuzes is part of a broader U.S. strategy to maintain technological superiority in counter‑drone operations. The Pentagon has repeatedly highlighted the need for cost‑effective, scalable solutions to counter the growing threat of small UAVs.
As of now, the U.S. has not announced any specific deployment dates for the upgraded APKWS system. The Army’s procurement office said that testing would begin in late 2026, with full fielding expected by 2028. The Navy’s procurement office indicated that the Melbourne‑based fuzes would be integrated into shipboard systems by mid‑2027.
The new fuzes also fit within the U.S. military’s broader emphasis on precision guided munitions. According to congressional reports, precision guided weapons account for a small fraction of total munitions fired but achieve a large share of successful hits. The Army’s use of the FALCO fuze is intended to increase that share for drone targets.
In summary, the U.S. Army’s order of FALCO proximity fuzes for APKWS rockets and the Navy’s procurement of Melbourne‑based fuzes represent a significant step toward improving the U.S. military’s ability to neutralise small drones. The upgrades are expected to be fielded over the next few years and will complement existing precision guided weapons such as the AGM‑114 Hellfire.
The procurement documents do not yet specify whether the new fuzes will be used in active combat operations. The Army and Navy have stated that the systems will undergo rigorous testing before deployment. The U.S. defense community is closely monitoring the development of these technologies as part of its broader counter‑drone strategy.
The new fuzes are a response to the increasing frequency of drone attacks on U.S. and allied assets, including the recent Iranian drone strikes on Kuwait’s airport. The U.S. government has repeatedly emphasized the need for reliable counter‑drone capabilities to protect military and civilian infrastructure.
The procurement of the FALCO fuze and the Melbourne company’s fuzes is expected to enhance the U.S. military’s ability to defend against small UAVs while maintaining cost effectiveness. The Army and Navy will continue to evaluate the performance of the new fuzes in field trials.
The U.S. defense community is also monitoring developments in other countries’ drone capabilities. The Russo‑Ukrainian war has highlighted the importance of drones in modern warfare, and the U.S. is investing in technologies that can counter the threat.
The procurement of the FALCO fuze and the Melbourne company’s fuzes is part of a broader effort to maintain U.S. technological superiority in counter‑drone operations, and the Army and Navy will continue to evaluate the performance of the new fuzes in field trials.
The U.S. military’s procurement of advanced proximity fuzes marks a tangible step toward improving its counter‑drone capabilities in a rapidly evolving threat environment.
