UK radio wave weapon takes down drone swarms

Developed by an industry consortium led by Thales, the Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) uses high frequency radio waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside drones, causing them to crash or malfunction. The project has been overseen by Team Hersa, a collaboration between Defence Equipment & Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). 

The RF DEW was recently trialled at a weapons range in West Wales where it knocked out multiple targets in what’s claimed to be largest counter-drone swarm exercise the British Army has ever conducted. Tests included the Army taking down two swarms of drones in a single engagement, with more than 100 drones being tracked, engaged and defeated across all trials. Sgt Mayers, a senior remotely-piloted air systems operator from 106 Regiment Royal Artillery, was the first soldier to bring drones down using the radio wave weapon. 

“RF DEW is an exciting concept,” Sgt Mayers said.