New Microwave Technology Capable of Taking Out Entire Drone Swarms

What Happened?

A new high-powered microwave counter drone defense system being developed by the U.S. Army is designed to take out entire drone swarms not just individual flying drones. 

The idea originated in the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office in early 2023 under the Integrated Fires Protection Capability High Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) program. 

Four new high powered microwave anti-drone systems were delivered to the U.S. Army in March of 2024. In October those were modified with a more advanced sensor suite. 

Those are now reportedly ready for field testing.

Why it Matters

The war in Ukraine is rapidly changing the way drones are being used in combat. Instead of just single drone attacks, large drone groups or swarms are becoming more common on battlefields in Ukraine. 

At the same time, most counter drone defensive systems are still designed to take out one drone at a time, giving attackers a decisive advantage in combat.

A system like the high-powered microwave counter drone defense could shift the balance of power back towards defenders. Lasers or other kinetic drone defenses can only target one drone at a time.

But by emitting a broad burst of energy the high-powered microwave, systems can target every drone in an attacking swarm disabling or disrupting their electronics. In Army parlance this is known as a “one to many” capability as opposed to one-to-one systems.

While the idea of a one-to-many system isn’t new, the ability to operationalize one is. The CEO of Epirus, the defense contractor who delivered the new prototypes to the Army, said “This is an idea that changes the paradigm of how we think about defense of critical assets from a one-to-one thought process to a one-to-many thought process.” 

While he went on to say kinetics such as anti-aircraft guns aren’t really an option for one-to-many defense, rapid fire weapons such as the Phalanx anti-missile system could also be used to knock down drone swarms.

Because they can fire 6,000 rounds per minute, such a kinetic system certainly could be used to take out an attacking drone swarm. But while kinetic systems can quickly run out of ammunition, a high-powered microwave system could keep generating energy for a longer time. 

Another advantage to high powered microwave systems is they do more than just disrupt drone communications. Newer drones today can be pre-programmed to continue to their targets autonomously, meaning signal jammers won’t work on them because they can continue to their targets without any signals. 

Microwaves can fry drone electronics so they can’t function at all, causing them to fall from the sky.

How it Affects You

Drone swarms are not just a threat on the battlefields of Ukraine. 

They can be employed anywhere, including cities and towns far from modern conflicts. It is likely only a matter of time before drones and drone swarms will be used for assassinations, terrorist attacks, and even in support of criminal activities. 

Having a counter drone technology capable of defeating swarms will become more important as drone attacks become more prevalent.