US military deploys new microwave weapon: beam weapon to eliminate drone swarms

The battlefield of tomorrow is taking shape, and the American army is arming itself with a new weapon straight out of science fiction: high-power microwaves.

Epirusa technology company specializing in managed energy solutions, announced last Wednesday (May 15) that it had successfully tested its Indirect fire protection capability: high power microwave (IFPC-HPM) with the US Army. This marks a significant step forward in combating the growing threat of drone swarms.

Countering the threat of drone swarms

The importance of this achievement cannot be underestimated.

Drone attacks are a growing concern as they risk overwhelming traditional air defense systems.

The battlefield of tomorrow is taking shape, and the American army is arming itself with a new weapon straight out of science fiction: high-power microwaves.

Epirusa technology company specializing in managed energy solutions, announced last Wednesday (May 15) that it had successfully tested its Indirect fire protection capability: high power microwave (IFPC-HPM) with the US Army. This marks a significant step forward in combating the growing threat of drone swarms.

Countering the threat of drone swarms

The importance of this achievement cannot be underestimated.

Drone attacks are a growing concern as they risk overwhelming traditional air defense systems.

Swarms of small, agile drones can be difficult to track and destroy with missiles or firearms.

The IFPC-HPM system offers a new solution: a silent, directed beam of energy that can fry the electronics of drones in mid-flight, disabling them mid-flight.

“Now that we've done that, they're going to make their systems robust against electromagnetic interference. We have already thought about these steps to #Epirus and we have the right hooks and system architecture in place. » ~ Andy Lowery, CEO @epirus via Microwave Log pic.twitter.com/GAWFfEm6vW

– AirPower 2.0 (MIL_STD) (@AirPowerNEW1) May 15, 2024

The successful tests are the result of close collaboration between Epirus, the Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), and the Air Defense Artillery (ADA) community.

The main milestones achieved were the completion of New Equipment Training (NET) and Technical Development Testing (EDT).

Putting IFPC-HPM systems to the test

EDT pushed IFPC-HPM systems to their limits. Engineers evaluated their effectiveness against drones and drone swarms, using increasingly complex flight models to simulate real-world scenarios.

The data collected during these tests will be crucial to the Army Test and Evaluation Command and the Department of Defense.

It will inform future programs and budgets and, ultimately, the operational deployment of these microwave defense systems.

Epirus CEO Andy Lowery expressed his enthusiasm for the results:

“We were able to demonstrate effects that we have not yet achieved in such a real-world environment, including coordinated fires for additional range and advanced waveforms for greater efficiency.”

Lowery further pointed out that their evaluations of various systems within a broader framework clarified their capabilities, limitations and requirements.

Above all, it confirmed the effectiveness of their high-power microwave systems in combating drones and swarms, positioning them as an essential part of a multi-layered defense strategy.

Soldiers prepared for the future battlefield

But success goes beyond technical prowess, because the training of soldiers is essential.

The troops who will handle these futuristic weapons underwent comprehensive training (NET) in March, followed by participation in the EDT. This hands-on experience ensures a smooth transition when IFPC-HPM systems are integrated into business units.

The video below shows a representative from Epirus explaining what the company's high-power microwave systems can offer last year to counter the Navy's drone swarm threat.

The U.S. military's adoption of high-power microwave technology ushers in a new era in drone warfare. This innovative weapon offers a powerful, non-kinetic solution capable of effectively neutralizing drone swarms, protecting soldiers and critical infrastructure from these omnipresent threats.

As the technology matures and is deployed, the battlefield will undoubtedly transform, with microwave beams becoming a familiar sight alongside traditional weapons.