Overview
- A TRV‑150, a Malloy T‑150 heavy‑lift logistics drone adapted by SURVICE and owned by BAE, fired laser‑guided APKWS rockets to engage several one‑way attack drones in succession during trials at Eglin Air Force Base in the Sept. 21–25 experimentation exercise.
- The system used a three‑pod APKWS launcher that lets standard 70 mm Hydra rockets acquire a laser spot for guidance, giving a far lower per‑shot cost than air‑to‑air missiles and making multiple interceptions in one sortie practical.
- BAE FalconWorks developed and integrated the APKWS kit while SURVICE modified the aircraft to U.S. requirements, building on an initial single‑shot live fire from an adapted T‑150 in July 2025 and later three‑shot launches tested in 2026.
- In the Eglin tests the TRV‑150 fired successive shots without landing to reload, but companies have not announced a service entry date, formal fielding plan, or rules governing the use of armed logistics drones.
- Manufacturers are now pursuing maritime adaptations to protect ships from drone attacks, a move that could give sailors and troops a lower‑cost, longer‑endurance interceptor option and change how commanders allocate aircraft and shipboard defenses.