According to the Financial Times, the United Kingdom has successfully tested RapidDestroyer, a powerful microwave weapon developed by a consortium led by Thales to counter threats from unmanned aerial vehicles. As indicated, the technology used aims to neutralize entire swarms of UAVs at minimal cost by emitting radio waves that disrupt or destroy the drones’ electronic systems. In tests conducted by the UK Ministry of Defense in Wales, more than 100 drones were successfully neutralized, including two groups of eight units each.
The RapidDestroyer system, officially labeled RFDEW (Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon), is designed to detect, track and defeat a variety of threats. RFDEW’s adaptability makes it suitable for deployment on a variety of platforms – land, sea and air-based, this system provides a practical means of protecting critical infrastructure in modern defense scenarios. It can neutralize targets up to one kilometer away with almost instantaneous effect at a cost per shot estimated at just ten pence. This cost-effectiveness stands in stark contrast to traditional missile defense systems, making RFDEW, according to the British military, a complementary solution in modern defense strategies. Unlike laser-based systems such as DragonFire, RFDEW uses high-frequency radio waves to interfere with or damage critical electronic components of targets, disabling or crashing them.
It is stated that RFDEW technology works by emitting a focused microwave beam powerful enough to damage the internal electronics of enemy drones. The beam can be maintained continuously as long as the power supply is on, allowing for an immediate response. The microwaves used are in the range between radio and infrared radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum, allowing for targeted effects without kinetic impact.
British military experts point out that the RapidDestroyer system can be integrated into a wider air defense network with components designed to deal with other threats such as aircraft and missiles. A high degree of automation allows the system to be operated by a single person and mounted on military vehicles such as MAN SVs, increasing its operational flexibility. The RapidDestroyer system is categorized as a directed energy weapon that uses concentrated electromagnetic energy to disable targets, similar to the DragonFire laser system.
Commenting on the development of this weapon, British military experts note that this technological development is the result of a program conducted by Thales UK in partnership with QinetiQ, Teledyne e2v and Horiba Mira. It involved more than 135 highly skilled workers in the UK defense sector, reflecting the government’s focus on supporting this sector of the British military-industrial complex.
According to the Financial Times, the first combat demonstration of the RFDEW took place at a test range in Wales and was conducted by the Royal Artillery Test and Development Unit and the 7th Air Defense Group. The RFDEW is being developed under the Team HERSA program, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Defense, the Defense Equipment and Support Division (DE&S) and the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
However, British military experts note that despite its usefulness, the RFDEW system has a number of technical limitations to its use. In particular, drones equipped with advanced systems such as fiber optic control links are less sensitive to radio interference, which reduces the effectiveness of RFDEW. In addition, some drones are equipped with anti-jamming technologies or enhanced electronics that can reduce the impact of microwave attacks. RFDEW’s limited range of approximately one kilometer may also reduce its effectiveness in high altitude warfare or large-scale coordinated attacks.
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