Latest news with #RapidDestroyer
Euronews
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
What is the UK's ‘microwave weapon' that counters drone attacks and how does it work?
ADVERTISEMENT The United Kingdom successfully tested a new type of weapon, which uses radio frequency waves to take down drone swarms , the UK's Ministry of Defence said. Called RapidDestroyer, the device uses the high-power frequency 'to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside drones' at a distance, which causes them to crash or malfunction,' according to a government statement published on Thursday. The weapon managed to take down over 100 drones during several different tests and was shown to work at ranges of up to 1km, and cannot be jammed using electronic warfare. Drone attacks are increasingly used in modern warfare, with Ukraine defending against attacks from more than 18,000 drones last year, according to the UK Defence Intelligence. Related This Ukrainian drone is safe from electronic warfare thanks to fibre-optic cables Wild Hornet attacks: How Ukraine's drones are making their mark on the frontline 'We found the demonstrator quick to learn and easy to use. With improvements on range and power, which could come with further development, this would be a great asset to Layered Air Defence,' Sergeant Mayers, who tested the weapon, said in a statement. This type of defence implies using several different types of defence systems, each designed to stop threats at different distances and heights, and that could defend against a wide spectrum of threats. One example of this strategy is the Iron Dome deployed by Israel. Related NATO explores new drone technology as 'Pandora's box' opened in Russia's war in Ukraine 'We continue to strengthen our defence sector, adding more cutting-edge capabilities to keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad, while making defence an engine for growth across our towns and cities,' Maria Eagle, the UK Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, said in a statement. RapidDestroyer belongs to a larger group of directed energy weapons, which also includes laser-based systems. It was developed by a consortium led by the French company Thales and is estimated to cost €0.12 per shot fired. The UK said that this technology could provide a cost-effective addition to traditional missile-based air defence systems. Related When it comes to defence tech, Europe could learn lessons on speed from Ukraine It comes as the UK is increasing its defence spending on new technologies, following US President Donald Trump telling European leaders earlier this year they needed to step up military support for Ukraine in preparation for a peace deal with Russia. The UK will spend 2.5 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2027, which is the country's biggest increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
British High-Power Microwave Weapon Successfully Tested Against Drone Swarms
The British Army has, for the first time, used a directed-energy weapon to bring down a swarm of drones during trials. The Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon demonstrator, or RF DEW, reflects a fast-growing trend to harness new ways of neutralizing the drone threat, both on the battlefield and for homeland defense. The U.K. Ministry of Defense today announced the completion of the landmark trials, which took place at Air Defense Range Manorbier in West Wales. Operated by British Army soldiers, the RF DEW demonstrator, mounted on an RMMV HX60 4×4 truck chassis, was used to track, target, and defeat swarms of drones. In total, the trials saw the weapon bring down more than 100 drones, with one experiment including two swarms of drones that were neutralized in a single engagement — the total number of drones involved in that particular test was not disclosed. As a directed-energy weapon, a broader category that also includes lasers, the RF DEW system tackles the target or targets without the use of a projectile. Instead, high-frequency radio waves disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside the drones, leading them to crash or malfunction. The system is 'capable of neutralizing multiple targets simultaneously with near-instant effect,' the U.K. Ministry of Defense said. Highly automated, the RF DEW includes sensors for detection and tracking, as well as the weapon itself, in a single integrated system. The sensor suite includes a wide-area surveillance radar, also used for tracking and targeting, plus an optical camera that the operator can use to identify particular targets. The Ministry of Defense added that RF DEW systems of this type are able to defeat airborne drones at ranges of up to one kilometer (0.6 miles) and are effective against threats that cannot otherwise be jammed using electronic warfare. The ministry added that the cost 'per shot' for the RF DEW is around 10 pence or around 13 U.S. cents. 'RF DEW is an exciting concept, explained Sgt. Mayers, a Senior Remotely Piloted Air Systems Operator from the British Army's 106 Regiment Royal Artillery. 'We found the demonstrator quick to learn and easy to use. With improvements on range and power, which could come with further development, this would be a great asset to layered air defense.' Sgt. Mayers was described by the Ministry of Defense as the first British soldier to bring down drones using a radiofrequency weapon. The RF DEW system was developed by an industry consortium led by Thales U.K., part of a U.K. government investment of more than £40 million (around $53 million) in research and development in this area. Thales uses the commercial name RapidDestroyer for the RF DEW system used in the British Army trials. The company offers the system as a standalone counter-drone solution. 'part of a collective of effectors, or part of an integrated air defense configuration, such as ForceShield.' The ForceShield configuration includes radars, a control station, short-range surface-to-air missiles, and guns. According to Thales, the RF DEW system is particularly relevant for tackling 'swarms of incoming mini and micro drones, making it an excellent complementary system to existing, conventional short-range air defense systems such as the Lightweight Multi-role Missile (LMM).' The RF DEW project is managed by Team Hersa, a collaboration between Defense Equipment & Support, responsible for providing equipment and support services to the U.K. Armed Forces, and the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory, which is the research and development branch of the Ministry of Defense. At this stage, the RF DEW system is not being procured for the U.K. Armed Forces, although the Ministry of Defense notes that 'it could provide a cost-effective complement to traditional missile-based air defense systems […] if developed into operational service.' Previous reports suggest that a production version of the system could be fielded as soon as 2027. Undoubtedly, fielding new equipment to better tackle the threat posed by drones, especially swarming ones, is a growing concern globally. 'The development of RF DEW systems could help to protect the United Kingdom from unidentified drones at security-sensitive areas such as defense bases and could play a role in preventing disruption at airports,' said Maria Eagle, the Minister for Defense Procurement and Industry. Eagle's words are especially relevant in light of the drone incursions over and near the U.S. air base at RAF Lakenheath in England last November, which you can read about here. This was just one of many drone incursions recorded over a U.S. military installation or sensitive area, a topic that TWZ has covered extensively. Her reference to 'disruption at airports' likely points to incidents at the commercial Gatwick Airport in England. Back in 2018, a 'sustained drone attack' saw the airport shut for more than 24 hours, and similar incidents have occurred at the same location since then. Meanwhile, the significant impact that drones can have on the battlefield has been well demonstrated in Ukraine, where both sides make extensive use of drones of different kinds, with first-person-view (FPV) types being the most prevalent. According to the U.K. Ministry of Defense, Ukraine had to defend itself against attacks from more than 18,000 drones last year alone. Outside of that conflict, drones have also made a significant mark in various crises in and around the Middle East. In the context of U.S. homeland defense, TWZ has looked in detail at the pros and cons of fielding radiofrequency directed-energy weapons, among other counter-drone solutions. Faced by confusing legal and regulatory hurdles, the U.S. military has said it's not currently interested in fielding kinetic and directed-energy capabilities, such as laser and high-power microwave weapons, let alone surface-to-air interceptors, or gun systems, for defending domestic bases and other critical infrastructure from drone threats. Instead, the U.S. military's focus is on electronic warfare and cyber warfare, and other 'soft-kill' options, at least for now. After all, as we discussed in the past, even lower tiers of counter-drone weapons, such as lasers and high-power microwave systems, can create dangerous or otherwise serious collateral effects. While that might not be an issue on the battlefield, it certainly raises questions about their suitability for homeland defense. On the other hand, the words of the U.K. government suggest that the RF DEW system is certainly being considered for such a role, although perhaps only in already highly restricted areas, like air bases and other larger installations. A radiofrequency directed-energy weapon also offers notable advantages over 'soft-kill' options, like electronic warfare jammers, in that it can also bring down drones that are operating autonomously by disrupting their onboard electronics. As we have discussed before — and will revisit again soon in an in-depth story — high-power microwave (HPM) directed-energy weapons are an area in which the U.S. military, including the Navy, is currently investing. Among the leading players here is Epirus, whose Leonidas system has been integrated on the Stryker armored fighting vehicle. Other examples include the Tactical High-power Operational Responder, also known as THOR, a containerized counter-drone system that the U.S. Air Force has been testing. Like the British system, THOR is designed to engage multiple drones at short ranges in a point defense role. It's worth noting that another counter-drone solution appears to have been deployed by the British Army at RAF Lakenheath — and two other U.S.-staffed bases — in response to the drone incursions there last year. 'A military source … confirmed that the RAF had offered the United States a counter-drone system that can electronically take command of an enemy drone and turn it back on itself to try to identify those flying the drones,' according to The Times newspaper in the United Kingdom. The system described was NINJA, originally developed for the U.S. Air Force and subsequently becoming part of the Royal Air Force ORCUS system, which also includes a counter-drone electronic warfare jamming system called Guardian and various sensors. Although it is unclear if this capability or others were actually deployed to those bases, it's clear that counters to these kinds of drone threats are being taken increasingly seriously by the U.K. Armed Forces. The British Army last October tested a high-energy laser, another type of directed-energy weapon, which was fired from a Wolfhound protected troop-carrying vehicle, at a range in Wales. Once again, these trials saw the weapon successfully destroy aerial drones. Whatever the future of the RF DEW system and RapidDestroyer, it's clear that the drone threat continues to proliferate globally among state and non-state actors, including organized criminal groups. When it comes to acquiring and operating drones — including armed ones — the barrier to entry is and has been low. In the context of the United Kingdom, there have already been multiple incidents underscoring the reality of these kinds of threats. With that in mind, it's no surprise that the British Army is looking closely at the RF DEW system for potential deployment domestically, as well as on the battlefield, especially as the threat of truly networked swarms looms ever closer. Contact the author: thomas@
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
U.K. touts test of new radio wave weapon to take down "swarms of drones"
London — The U.K. military has conducted a successful field test of a new type of weapon designed specifically to take down multiple drones launched in a coordinated attack, the government said Thursday. In a statement, the government said British soldiers had "successfully tracked, targeted and defeated swarms of drones" for the first time using "a new directed energy weapon developed in the U.K." The "RapidDestroyer," a Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) was developed by a consortium led by the British arm of French defense giant Thales. The test took place at a military weapons range in Wales, "and was the largest counter-drone swarm exercise the British Army have conducted to date," according to the government. In a video posted on social media, the Ministry of Defense said RF DEW systems use radio wave energy to "target," "disrupt" or "damage" components of drones directly, rather than just disrupting their communications with ground operators. At a cost of around $0.18 per fired shot, the government said RF DEWs could provide a "cost-effective complement to traditional missile-based air defense" systems. During the trial of the RapidDestroyer system in Wales, the weapon was used to intercept more than 100 drones, the military said. The government stressed that RF DEW systems are currently effective against targets at a range up to about half a mile, and "against threats which cannot be jammed using electronic warfare." Work to increase their effective range continues. It is not the first weapon that uses high frequency energy to target unmanned aerial vehicles. The U.S. military has trialled at least two weapons systems designed to take down drone swarms, but both use microwave energy rather than radio waves. In 2023, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory said it had carried out a successful test of its Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR), "as it engaged a swarm of multiple targets" at a testing site at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. The U.K.'s announcement comes on the heels of the British government announcing its biggest increase in national defense spending since the end of the Cold War — and the statement released Thursday specified that such advanced weaponry would be part of that investment. "The government is significantly increasing the proportion of [the Ministry of Defense's] equipment procurement spend on novel technologies, spending at least 10% from 2025-26," the statement said. It said RF DEW systems could be used "to protect the U.K. from unidentified drones at security sensitive areas such as defense bases, and could play a role in preventing disruption at airports." The incentive to push advances in such weapons has been highlighted by Russia's relentless use of drones in its three-year war against neighboring Ukraine, the U.K. government said. "Drone swarms are increasingly seen in use in frontline combat in Ukraine," the government said. "U.K. Defense Intelligence estimates that last year Ukraine had to defend against attacks from more than 18,000 drones." Ukraine unveils its own drone killer as U.S. backing wanes Justin Bronk of the Royal United Service Institute, a military-focused think tank in London, told the Financial Times that "high-powered microwave systems are potentially a very effective tool for defense against large numbers of [drones] and potentially cruise missiles as well." Smaller weapons designed to intercept or destroy single drones have been deployed by military and police forces around the world. During the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024, French law enforcement agencies intercepted over 50 drones using hand-held anti-drone weapons. In 2015, U.S. aerospace and defense behemoth Boeing developed a laser weapon capable of taking down an unmanned aircraft by burning components of it from a distance in under 15 seconds. Sneak peek: The Detective's Wife White House responds to judge who found cause to hold Trump administration in contempt Biden slams current administration without naming Trump in first public speech since leaving office
CBS News
17-04-2025
- CBS News
U.K. touts successful test of new radio wave weapon to take down "swarms of drones"
London — The U.K. military has conducted a successful field test of a new type of weapon designed specifically to take down multiple drones launched in a coordinated attack, the government said Thursday. In a statement , the government said British soldiers had "successfully tracked, targeted and defeated swarms of drones" for the first time using "a new directed energy weapon developed in the U.K." The "RapidDestroyer," a Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) was developed by a consortium led by the British arm of French defense giant Thales. The test took place at a military weapons range in Wales, "and was the largest counter-drone swarm exercise the British Army have conducted to date," according to the government. In a video posted on social media, the Ministry of Defense said RF DEW systems use radio wave energy to "target," "disrupt" or "damage" components of drones directly, rather than just disrupting their communications with ground operators. At a cost of around $0.18 per fired shot, the government said RF DEWs could provide a "cost-effective complement to traditional missile-based air defense" systems. During the trial of the RapidDestroyer system in Wales, the weapon was used to intercept more than 100 drones, the military said. The government stressed that RF DEW systems are currently effective against targets at a range up to about half a mile, and "against threats which cannot be jammed using electronic warfare." Work to increase their effective range continues. It is not the first weapon that uses high frequency energy to target unmanned aerial vehicles. The U.S. military has trialled at least two weapons systems designed to take down drone swarms, but both use microwave energy rather than radio waves. In 2023, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory said it had carried out a successful test of its Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR), "as it engaged a swarm of multiple targets" at a testing site at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. The U.K.'s announcement comes on the heels of the British government announcing its biggest increase in national defense spending since the end of the Cold War — and the statement released Thursday specified that such advanced weaponry would be part of that investment. "The government is significantly increasing the proportion of [the Ministry of Defense's] equipment procurement spend on novel technologies, spending at least 10% from 2025-26," the statement said. It said RF DEW systems could be used "to protect the U.K. from unidentified drones at security sensitive areas such as defense bases, and could play a role in preventing disruption at airports." The incentive to push advances in such weapons has been highlighted by Russia's relentless use of drones in its three-year war against neighboring Ukraine , the U.K. government said. "Drone swarms are increasingly seen in use in frontline combat in Ukraine," the government said. "U.K. Defense Intelligence estimates that last year Ukraine had to defend against attacks from more than 18,000 drones." Justin Bronk of the Royal United Service Institute, a military-focused think tank in London, told the Financial Times that "high-powered microwave systems are potentially a very effective tool for defense against large numbers of [drones] and potentially cruise missiles as well." Smaller weapons designed to intercept or destroy single drones have been deployed by military and police forces around the world. During the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024, French law enforcement agencies intercepted over 50 drones using hand-held anti-drone weapons. In 2015, U.S. aerospace and defense behemoth Boeing developed a laser weapon capable of taking down an unmanned aircraft by burning components of it from a distance in under 15 seconds. Tucker Reals contributed to this report.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
The UK just took down a swarm of drones with a 13-cent-a-shot energy weapon
The UK's MOD said it used a radiowave-based weapon to shoot down a drone swarm. This would be a first for the cutting-edge weaponry in the UK. The RF-DEW disrupts drones with high-frequency radio waves and costs 13 cents a shot. The British Army says it shot down a drone swarm using a radiowave-based directed energy weapon, in a first for the technology in the UK. At an undisclosed weapons range in Wales, the Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon, or RF-DEW, tracked and took down the swarm during the trial, and worked with "near-instant effect," the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday. RF-DEW has been shown in previous trials to be effective from over 1,000 yards. But — as the largest such trial in the UK to date — this was the first time it took down a whole swarm of drones. RF-DEW is being developed by a consortium led by French manufacturer Thales, which dubbed the tech "RapidDestroyer" during trials. Thales also collaborated with both the French and British defense ministries on the MMCM naval mine countermeasures system that is being rolled out this year. RF-DEW uses high-frequency radio waves to disrupt or damage electronic components inside drones, in what Thales described as a "hard-kill" mechanism. This is in contrast to existing systems that jam, or confuse drones, Thales said. The technology is considered to be a low-cost partner to larger-scale, missile-based air defense systems, and costs just 13 cents a shot, according to the MOD. The British Army conducted the trials against 100 small quadcopter drones, of two types: The Boresight Raider, a drone with swarming capabilities designed specifically for use in counter-drone tech trials, and the Parrot Anafi, a commercial off-the-shelf drone camera. Sgt Mayers, the British officer who brought down the drones, said that the system was "quick to learn and easy to use." "With improvements on range and power, which could come with further development, this would be a great asset to Layered Air Defence," Mayers added. This comes against a backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has seen major advancements in the use of drones in combat. Drone swarms — where groups of drones act autonomously or semi-autonomously and in concert with each other — are still in their infancy, with Ukrainian companies trialing swarms designed to resist Russian electronic warfare. The RF-DEW trial is part of a push to increase new technologies in British defense capabilities. There are currently no plans to deploy the system in Ukraine, the MOD said. In early April, the UK government announced a £400 million, or $530 million, fund for defense innovation, with 10% of the MOD's equipment budget to be ringfenced for new tech. Read the original article on Business Insider
