What is known

Unmanned aerial vehicles have begun to play a very important role in modern military affairs. Even small drones sold in a regular store can be converted into a system that aims artillery fire or ensures accurate delivery of grenades without much effort. Specially designed military UAVs turn into much more formidable weapons in skilled hands. Therefore, according to the laws of the arms race, appropriate methods must emerge against this threat.

Scientists and engineers have proposed a number of ideas. One of the most promising is a directed energy weapon that uses lasers and microwaves to neutralize or destroy enemy drones. The advantage of such systems is that there are no limits on the amount of ammunition, since they are limited only by the energy supply. Moreover, developers of such weapons state that the price of such a shot traveling at the speed of light is only one dollar, while existing air defense systems use expensive missiles and are not that fast. Such an energy weapon allows you to defend against extremely fast and maneuverable threats because the beam will reach its target much faster than it moves across the sky. It can also be programmed to cover large areas of the sky without harming friendly aircraft.

According to a three-year contract in total US$31.3 millionRaytheon will develop prototype antenna systems by 2026 as part of the Directed Energy Frontline Electromagnetic Neutralization and Defeat (DEFEND) program.

The stated goal is to produce rugged components for weapons that can “deliver high-energy beams across a broad microwave range of the electromagnetic spectrum.” Such microwaves can jam, disable, or even completely destroy a drone’s electronics, sensors, and communications, turning it from a potential threat into a piece of trash.