Radio wave weapon can take down a swarm of drones

British soldiers have successfully trialled a game-changing weapon designed to detect, track and engage a range of threats across land, air and sea — and it can apparently take down a swarm of drones for less than the cost of a pack of mince pies.

Unlike laser directed-energy weapons, which rely on a beam of light energy, the Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) uses a mobile power source to produce pulses of radio frequency energy in a beam that can rapidly fire sequenced shots at individual targets or be broadened to simultaneously engage all threats within that beam. These high-frequency radio waves will disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside devices such as drones, causing them to be immobilised or fall out of the sky.

RFDEWs are capable of neutralising targets up to 1 km away with near instant effect and at an estimated cost of 10 pence (20 cents) per shot fired, providing a cost-effective complement to traditional missile-base air defence systems (further development in extending the weapon’s range is ongoing). With a high level of automation, the system can be operated by a single person and could be mounted onto a variety of military vehicles to provide mobility.

The British Army recently trialled a demonstrator version of the RFDEW that was produced by a consortium led by Thales UK and included subcontractors QinetiQ, Teledyne e2v and Horiba Mira. According to the UK’s Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, “The successful firing by the British soldiers of our Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon is another step forward for a potentially game-changing sovereign weapon for the UK.

“This is demonstration of the UK remaining at the forefront of directed energy weapons and developing a crucial advantage against the emerging threats we face.”

The live firing trial was completed by the Army’s Royal Artillery Trials and Development Unit and 7 Air Defence Group at a range in West Wales, where they successfully targeted and engaged uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). User experimentation trials completed in recent months have enabled Army air defence personnel to explore and exercise the capability’s potential in different configurations across a variety of environments, threat types and engagement scenarios.

“I am thrilled with the successful RFDEW firing trials,” said Nigel MacVean, Managing Director of Thales Integrated Airspace-protection Systems. “Thales has been at the forefront of this pioneering technology for over 40 years and our continued research and development in this sector, along with our partners in government, paves the way for a strong future in this field.”

The development of the RFDEW was originally announced back in May 2024 and has been delivered by Team HERSA — a joint enterprise between the MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).

“These game-changing systems will deliver decisive operational advantage to the UK armed forces, saving lives and defeating deadly threats,” said Dstl Chief Executive Paul Hollinshead. “World-class capabilities such as this are only possible because of decades of research, expertise and investment in science and technology at Dstl and our partners in UK industry.”

With the RFDEW offering a precise, powerful and cost-effective means to defeat multiple aerial threats, the trials program will continue to enable further development and experimentation. Meanwhile, Team HERSA continues to work with operators to develop the weapon’s requirements, doctrine and technology, shaping the next generation of mission-optimised RFDEWs.

Image caption: The RFDEW demonstrator on a truck.