RFDEW system (Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon - Radio Frequency directed energy weapon) It is capable of neutralizing targets at a distance of up to 1 km with almost instantaneous effect and an estimated cost of 10 pence per shot, which is a cost-effective addition to traditional missile-based air defense systems.
This system is capable of detecting, tracking and defeating a range of threats on land, in the air and at sea. It differs from directed laser energy weapons such as the DragonFire in that it uses radio frequency rather than a laser beam of light energy to suppress hostile threats.
The weapon uses high-frequency waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside devices such as drones, causing them to be immobilized or fall from the sky. It can also be used against threats on land and at sea.
The system was created by a consortium led by Thales UK and including subcontractors QinetiQ, Teledyne e2v and Horiba Mira, and supports up to 135 highly skilled jobs in the UK.
This progress helps to implement the government's transformation plan by rapidly developing technology and creating a solid foundation for national security.
The high level of automation means that the system can be operated by one person, and it can be installed both permanently at facilities and on a military vehicle, such as the MAN SV, to ensure mobility.
The Minister of Defense Procurement and Industry, MP Maria Eagle, said:
It's great to see how defense experts and industry are working together to provide our Armed Forces with the most advanced equipment.
This demonstrates that the UK remains at the forefront of producing directed energy weapons and is developing a decisive advantage in the face of the new threats we face.
Recently, the Royal Artillery Test and Development Unit of the Army and the 7th Air Defense Group completed live firing at a training ground in West Wales, where they successfully tested and hit unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which was the first time for the British armed forces.
Experimental tests completed in recent months have allowed the personnel of the Army air Defense forces to explore and test the potential of capabilities in various configurations, under various conditions, under various types of threats and scenarios of warfare.
This activity is a continuation of the development process announced back in May and carried out by the HERSA Group, a joint venture between the Department of Defense Equipment and Support of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom and the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
Dstl Program Manager Matt Cork said:
Dstl collaborated with DE&S and industry, which led to the rapid development of radio frequency technology.
Nigel McvEen, managing director of Thales IAS, said:
These latest tests mark a turning point in the UK's ongoing efforts to enhance the future operational capabilities of the armed forces and offer a precise, powerful and cost-effective means of countering multiple aerial threats.
The test program will continue to provide further development and experimentation, while the HERSA team will continue to work with operators to develop RFDEW requirements, doctrine, and technologies, shaping the next generation of mission-optimized RFDEW.
In addition to the RFDEW system described above, as of 2021, there are three more projects in the UK to develop weapons of directed radio frequency energy.: Project Tracey, Project DragonFly, and Project Ealing.
Moreover, the demonstration system of the Ealing project was built as of 2024 and is to be tested by the 7th Air Defense Group.
The United States has also developed and is testing its anti-drone systems.
One of them: THOR (Tactical Powerful Operational Responder) is a directed—energy microwave weapon developed by the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
Image source: topwar.ru
THOR is designed to combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by sending a powerful short pulse of microwaves to disable electronics through overwhelming critical components designed to transmit electrical currents. This is effective for intercepting a swarm of drones; while the laser takes time to burn through one at a time, the THOR can shoot in an arc to disable several at once, and restart in quick succession. Compared to the methods of hard hitting drones, THOR radio pulses have a wider range of damage, are silent and instantaneous. The system, designed to defend the base, resembles a 20-foot (6.1 m) shipping container with a satellite antenna attached. It can be transported on a C-130 Hercules and assembled by two employees in less than three hours.
For the first time, THOR began testing in the spring of 2019. The system was developed quickly, in 18 months, for $18 million. The program is a collaboration between AFRL, BAE Systems, Leidos, and Verus Research, an Albuquerque-based engineering firm. An Air Force spokesman said in December 2020 that THOR was being tested "in real-world conditions" in Africa, but then this statement was withdrawn.
In July 2021, AFRL began looking for contractors to develop a prototype follower of THOR called Mjolnir, named after Thor's hammer, in order to keep the name of the new system in the family. Mjolnir will include improvements in capabilities, reliability, and production readiness to create a deployable system that can be produced in large quantities. In February 2022, AFRL signed a $26 million contract with Leidos to build the system.
On April 5, 2023, THOR successfully hit several targets during a simulated swarm attack during a demonstration at the Chestnut Proving Ground, Kirtland Air Force Base; the number of drones shot down and the range were not disclosed.
