UK tests microwave weapons to destroy drone swarms
17 April 17:58
UK tests microwave weapons to destroy drone swarms
The UK Ministry of Defense has successfully tested a new type of electronic weapon called RapidDestroyer to combat drones, which could potentially be used in Ukraine.
This was reported by the Financial Times, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
“The RapidDestroyer was developed by a consortium led by French defense conglomerate Thales and uses powerful radio frequency to disable electronics in drones from a distance.
The Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that two flocks of eight drones were neutralized by the weapon in a recent test. In total, the project has tracked, engaged, and destroyed more than 100 drones across all tests.
The technology is still in its early stages: “The RapidDestroyer is transported on the back of a flatbed truck and requires a lot of power.
The US equivalent, the Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR), developed by the US Air Force and a number of private companies, is the size of a shipping container.
Other analogs include the Leonidas, which was developed by the Epirus technology company for the US Navy and is intended for use on board ships.
Numerous small and cheap drones are a difficult target for countermeasures that can hit only one target at a time and can be expensive. New electromagnetic weapon technology emits a broad beam of energy that is relatively cheap and capable of shooting down multiple drones at once.
Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute in London said that powerful microwave systems are potentially a very effective tool for defending against large numbers of drones and possibly cruise missiles.
He added that such weapons increase the ability to counter drones on bases in the desert, on the front lines, or on warships at sea, “where you’re not really worried about what’s moving in the direction of the enemy. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.”
This technology is also aimed at missile defense. The US Navy has announced that in 2026 it will test a powerful microwave weapon known as Project Meteor, which is capable of shooting down fast-moving anti-ship ballistic missiles.
