On December 23, 2024, the British Army announced the successful testing of an innovative weapon designed to neutralize drone swarms using radio waves. Known as the Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW), this system offers an effective and economical solution to modern aerial threats. This technological advancement represents a significant step forward in missile and air defense, enhancing national security while optimizing operational costs.
The RFDEW is designed to detect, track, and neutralize threats across land, air, and sea with near-instantaneous effects at distances of up to one kilometer, costing only 10 pence per shot
The RFDEW is engineered to detect, track, and engage a variety of threats across land, air, and sea. It can neutralize targets at distances of up to one kilometer with near-instantaneous effect, at an estimated cost of just 10 pence per shot. This cost efficiency contrasts sharply with traditional missile-based defense systems, making it a complementary option for modern defense strategies. Unlike laser-based systems like the DragonFire, the RFDEW employs high-frequency radio waves to disrupt or damage the critical electronic components of targeted devices, such as drones, rendering them immobilized or causing them to crash.
This technological breakthrough is the result of a consortium led by Thales UK, in collaboration with QinetiQ, Teledyne e2v, and Horiba Mira. The project supports over 135 highly skilled jobs across the UK defense industry, demonstrating the government’s commitment to fostering sovereign technologies and reinforcing the foundations of national security. Additionally, the system’s high level of automation allows for operation by a single person and deployment on military vehicles, such as the MAN SV, enhancing its operational mobility.