Originally designed as a low-cost, laser-guided precision munition for air-to-ground targets, APKWS II was first tested for air-to-air use in 2019. It offers an affordable option for engaging slow-moving aerial threats such as drones and cruise missiles. During recent operations, F-16s have typically worked in pairs: one aircraft designated the target using the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, while the other executed the attack run with the rockets.

Compared to traditional air-to-air missile loadouts, the APKWS configuration allowed the F-16 to increase its engagement capacity significantly. While a standard load of AIM-9X and AIM-120 missiles offers six shots, carrying one or two rocket pods with APKWS enabled the Viper to triple that number. This was achieved at a fraction of the cost as each APKWS rocket is estimated at around 30,000 USD, while an AIM-9X costs approximately 450,000 USD and an AIM-120 exceeds 1 million USD per unit. The tradeoff, however, is that APKWS rockets are only effective against predictable targets with limited maneuverability.

The loadout recently tested on the F-15E takes the concept even further. With six LAU-131 pods installed, the Strike Eagle can carry up to 42 APKWS rockets in addition to its standard complement of eight air-to-air missiles. This gives the aircraft up to 50 engagement opportunities before even accounting for the internal gun. The layout also provides greater operational flexibility: the Weapons Systems Officer in the back seat can laser-designate targets using the Sniper ATP while the pilot concentrates on the engagement, eliminating the need for paired operations like those conducted with the F-16.