British Army Successfully Tests New Drone Killer

On Thursday, the British Ministry of Defense announced in a news release that its Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW), called “RapidDestroyer,” was proven capable of neutralizing multiple targets at once nearly instantly.

The trial, which occurred at a weapons range in West Wales, put to the test a high-frequency radio wave emitter designed to disrupt or damage critical electronic parts inside drones. 

The Ministry of Defense stated in its news release that the system can defeat airborne targets up to around half a mile away. It is also effective against devices that cannot be jammed with typical electronic warfare.

At an estimated cost of around 13 cents per shot fired, the new tech could be a cost-effective complement to traditional missile defense systems. The release stated that this successful trial comes as drone swarms are increasingly seen in frontline combat of the Russia-Ukraine war.

“U.K. Defense Intelligence estimates that last year Ukraine had to defend against attacks from more than 18,000 drones,” the release stated.

During testing, the British Army has taken down two swarms of drones in a single engagement. Over 100 drones have been tracked, engaged, and defeated using the weapon across all trials so far.

The United Kingdom has invested over 40 million euros—equivalent to around $45 million—in RF DEW research and development, supporting 135 jobs in Northern Ireland and  South East England.

“This significant experiment exemplifies the strength of British innovation—driven by our homegrown industry, technology firms, and scientific talent,” said Maria Eagle, U.K. minister of defense procurement and industry, in the release. “We continue to strengthen our defense sector, adding more cutting-edge capabilities to keep the U.K. secure at home and strong abroad, while making defense an engine for growth across our towns and cities.”

The RF DEW was spearheaded by “Team Hersa”— a collaboration between the United Kingdom’s Defense Equipment & Support and the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory. U.K.-based aerospace company Thales led the development of the RF DEW device used in demonstrations.

“Thales continues to be at the forefront of this pioneering technology, and we are proud to continue the research and development in this sector alongside our partners in government,” said Nigel MacVean, managing director of Thales’ integrated airspace-protection systems, in the release.