France has found a cheaper way for its Rafale fighters to take on drones, pairing the aircraft with laser-guided rockets instead of relying solely on costly interceptor missiles.
The capability was recently validated in live-fire trials conducted by the country’s Defence Procurement Agency, which said testing of the integrated 68mm weapon commenced in February.
Developed under the Anti-Drone Capability for Combat Aircraft (LADAC) program, the integration was completed just eight months after the contract was awarded.
Why Laser-Guided Rockets?
Traditional interceptor missiles carried by the Rafale can cost around $2 million each, while AMRAAM variants are priced at roughly $1 million per missile.
By comparison, Shahed-type drones cost about $50,000 to produce, creating an unfavorable cost exchange when expensive interceptors are used to destroy relatively inexpensive targets.
Laser-guided rockets are intended to help close that gap. Estimates put the cost of the guidance kit at around $20,000, with the warhead and rocket motor adding only a few thousand dollars more.
While not intended to replace air-to-air missiles against fast-moving fighter aircraft, the rockets provide a layered, lower-cost option for engaging attack drones and subsonic cruise missiles.
Behind the LADAC Program
LADAC reflects a broader shift in air warfare as militaries look for more affordable ways to defeat drones without relying exclusively on high-cost interceptor missiles.
American F-16s have previously used laser-guided rockets against Houthi drones, while the UK recently unveiled Eurofighter Typhoons equipped with a similar capability for operations in the Middle East.
Although LADAC is currently focused on the Rafale, France said the technology could eventually be adapted for export variants of the fighter and other combat aircraft.
