In the latest trial of a new direct energy weapon developed in the UK, British soldiers have tracked, targeted, and defeated swarms of drones for the first time.

The trial was completed at a weapons range in West Wales and was the largest counter-drone swarm exercise conducted by the British Army to date.

The weapon system demonstrator is a type of Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) and has proven capable of neutralising multiple targets simultaneously with near-instant effect.

It uses high-frequency radio waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside drones, causing them to crash or malfunction.

At an estimated cost of 10p per shot, if developed into operational service, it could provide a “cost-effective complement to traditional missile-based air defence systems,” the Ministry of Defence said.

RF DEW systems can defeat airborne targets at a range of up to 1km and are effective against threats which cannot be jammed using electronic warfare.

The successful trial comes after the UK Government has invested more than £40 million in RF DEW research and development.

With national security a foundation for the UK’s Plan for Change, the government is increasing the proportion of MOD’s equipment procurement spend on novel technologies, spending at least 10% from 2025-26.

It follows the announcement of the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, as the UK will spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by April 2027.

Recommended reading

• British Army Tests New Drone Destroying Laser
• UK to Boost Military Tech With New Innovation Body
• Autonomous AI Military Drones Tested by AUKUS in “First”

“This significant experiment exemplifies the strength of British innovation – driven by our home-grown industry, technology firms and scientific talent,” said minister for defence procurement and industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP.

“We continue to strengthen our defence sector, adding more cutting-edge capabilities to keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad, while making defence an engine for growth across our towns and cities.”