British Army Successfully Neutralizes Drone Swarms with Radiofrequency Weapon in Landmark Trial

In a groundbreaking step for modern defense technology, British soldiers have successfully employed a UK-developed radiofrequency directed energy weapon (RF DEW) to defeat multiple drone swarms during the largest counter-drone trial conducted by the British Army to date.

Key Highlights

• UK’s first live use of a radio wave-based weapon against drone swarms
• Neutralized 100+ drones across multiple engagements
• Developed by Thales UK under “Team Hersa,” in collaboration with the MOD and DSTL
• Supports over 135 high-skill jobs in Northern Ireland and South-East England

A New Age in Drone Defense

The RF DEW demonstrator uses high-frequency radio waves to instantly disable critical electronics within drones, causing them to crash or malfunction. Unlike traditional jamming systems, RF DEW is effective even against targets immune to electronic warfare.

• Range: Up to 1 km
• Cost per shot: Approx. £0.10 — vastly more economical than missile systems
• Applications: Homeland security, battlefield air defense, airport protection

The trials showed the weapon taking out two swarms in a single engagement, with more than 100 drones tracked and neutralized across multiple tests.

Sgt Mayers, a Senior RPAS Operator with 106 Regiment Royal Artillery, became the first British soldier to down drones using RF DEW, stating:

“RF DEW is an exciting concept — easy to use and quick to learn. With greater power and range, it could become an essential part of Layered Air Defence.”

Strategic Investment & Defence Modernization

The UK Government has committed £40+ million to RF DEW R&D as part of a broader initiative to spend at least 10% of the MOD’s equipment budget on novel technologies from FY 2025-26. This aligns with the UK’s goal to spend 2.5% of GDP on defense by April 2027, marking the largest sustained increase in defence funding since the Cold War.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, commented:

“This significant experiment exemplifies the strength of British innovation. We are advancing our defense capabilities while fostering growth across the UK through industrial excellence.”

Delivered by Industry-Leading Partners

Team Hersa, the industry-government partnership behind the RF DEW development, is led by Thales UK. The team includes:

• Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)
• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
• Thales UK’s engineering team (100 staff in NI)
• Supply chain contributors (30+ jobs in Chelmsford, Essex)

Nigel MacVean, Managing Director, Thales Integrated Airspace-Protection Systems, stated:

“Thales is proud to be at the forefront of pioneering directed energy technologies. This achievement marks a major milestone in protecting UK interests at home and abroad.”

Looking Ahead

RF DEW technologies hold promise not only for battlefield use but also for defending critical infrastructure such as:

• Military bases
• Airports
• National events
• Civilian airspace

As drone threats evolve in global conflict zones like Ukraine, the UK’s development of rapid-response, low-cost, scalable countermeasures demonstrates a significant leap toward resilient, layered air defense.

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