By MARK NICOL DEFENCE EDITOR
Published: | Updated:
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246 View commentsUK troops have used a revolutionary radio wave weapon to destroy a swarm of deadly drones for the first time.
The breakthrough technology can target and disable the electronic circuits in drones via invisible radio waves.
It should British or Ukrainian troops to counter Vladimir Putin's favoured tactic of using drone swarms to overwhelm air defences.
In the largest counter-drone swarm exercise conducted by UK forces, a radio wave machine destroyed electronics inside the aerial platforms.
The drones then crashed harmlessly to earth defeated by the Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) - which costs just 10 pence per shot fired.
RF DEW systems emit high-frequency radio waves that cause any electronic system to malfunction, at a remarkably low cost.
Their capability is currently limited to a range of 1km but this could be extended with more research.
In the Ministry of Defence tests, which took place in West Wales, the RF DEW systems eliminated four drones at once. The effects were instantaneous.
The drones then crashed harmlessly to earth defeated by the Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW, pictured above) - which costs just 10 pence per shot fired
RF DEW systems emit high-frequency radio waves that cause any electronic system to malfunction, at a remarkably low cost
File image of the aftermath of a Russian drone strike on energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine
Researchers hope to use the technology against larger swarms in future.
Last night, UK Minister for Defence Procurement, Angela Eagle, said: 'This significant experiment exemplifies the strength of British innovation - driven by our home-grown industry, technology firms and scientific talent.
'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.'
RF DEW technology can be mounted on a variety of military vehicles, as well as being deployed in a static role.
Beams can be released in rapid fire mode at separate targets or be directed over a broader range, engaging multiple targets with a single sweep.
The game changing systems are UK-developed although other countries are building similar applications for radio frequency defence programmes.
The war in Ukraine has shown the importance of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), drones as they are commonly known.
Therefore it is equally important to be able to defend against them.
Pictured above is a Russian Hunter drone falling from the sky after it was shot down
Russian forces have used drone swarms to overwhelm conventional defence systems, causing these systems to fail to intercept a more potent weapon such as a ballistic missile (pictured: a Russian Granat-4 drone)
File image of Ukrainian service personnel using searchlights as they look for drones in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv
Russian forces have used drone swarms to overwhelm conventional defence systems, causing these systems to fail to intercept a more potent weapon such as a ballistic missile.
Last year, Ukraine had to defend against attacks involving 18,000 drones in total.
The UK government has invested more than £40 million in RF DEW research and development, supporting 135 highly skilled jobs in Northern Ireland and the South-East of England.
The project has been delivered by Team Hersa - a collaboration between the government's research departments and a private industry consortium led by Thales UK.
Ukraine
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