U.S. Central Command has confirmed that American forces are now operating the Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System (EAGLS), a mobile counter-drone weapon that has moved from testing into active operational use in the Middle East.
In a statement released on January 19, 2026, CENTCOM said the system “counters drone threats with precision,” describing EAGLS as an adaptable and cost-effective counter-UAS capability designed to protect forward-deployed U.S. troops. The system is built around a 70mm rocket launcher firing laser-guided munitions, including the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), to defeat small and slow-moving aerial threats.
The announcement follows recent testing during the Sky Shield air and missile defense exercise held in Kuwait in early December. That multinational exercise focused on integrated air and missile defense and included live trials of systems intended to counter drones, which have increasingly targeted U.S. bases, logistics hubs and convoys across the region.
EAGLS is a relatively new capability developed by MSI Defense Solutions and has been fast-tracked into service under urgent operational requirements. The system combines a quad-rail LAND-LGR4 launcher with APKWS II laser-guided rockets, allowing forces to engage drones at a significantly lower cost than traditional surface-to-air missiles while maintaining precision against small targets.
The platform is conceptually similar to the VAMPIRE system supplied to Ukraine and integrates a remotely operated weapon station, an electro-optical and infrared sensor turret and a compact active electronically scanned array radar produced by Leonardo DRS. Its sensor suite includes the DRS RPS-40 radar, which can detect aerial targets at ranges of up to 10 kilometers and cue rapid engagements against low-flying threats.
According to U.S. Navy procurement data, the initial contract covered the delivery of five EAGLS systems, along with associated support and integration packages. The $24 million order, placed in April 2024, reflected growing concern within the U.S. military about the vulnerability of forward bases and supply nodes to low-cost drones employed by hostile groups.
Designed for expeditionary operations, EAGLS is vehicle-mounted and can maneuver with combat units or be positioned to defend fixed sites such as airfields, command posts and logistics hubs. By relying on laser-guided rockets rather than radar-guided interceptors, the system reduces the cost per engagement and preserves higher-end missiles for more complex air and missile threats.
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Post Image Credit: U.S. Department of Warcent
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