‘Game-changing’ new weapon that costs pennies to fire can take out enemy drones

A new weapon that uses high-frequency radio waves to take out swarms of enemy drones has been trialled successfully by the British Army.

The “game-changing” radio frequency-directed energy weapon (RFDEW) is intended to detect, track and destroy a range of threats across land, air and sea up to 1km away.

By using high-frequency waves, it disrupts or damages critical electronic components inside its targets causing them to be immobilised or fall out of the sky.

It costs only 10 pence to fire. Armed forces facing drone attacks typically have to use expensive missile systems costing many times that of their adversary to shoot them down, so have begun looking for cheaper alternatives, which also include guns that can fire webs.

The war in Ukraine and Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have demonstrated how low-cost drones can have a devastating effect.

While a basic Houthi explosive drone costs just under £16,000 ($20,075), a Sea Viper missile of the sort carried by Royal Navy ships deployed to the Red Sea, such as HMS Diamond, costs in excess of £1 million.

"The successful firing by the British soldiers of our radio frequency-directed energy weapon is another step forward for a potentially game-changing sovereign weapon for the UK,” said Maria Eagle, Britain’s Defence Procurement Minister.

"It's great to see defence experts and industry working collaboratively to put cutting-edge equipment in the hands of our armed forces. This is a demonstration of the UK remaining at the forefront of directed energy weapons and developing a crucial advantage against the emerging threats we face."

The British Amy successfully trialled a demonstrator version of the RFDEW in a live firing exercise against drones at a range in west Wales.

Over the past year, Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden that they claimed were linked to Israel and its allies.

The Houthis have seized one vessel, sunk two and killed four sailors despite numerous air strikes by the US at the rebel groups' infrastructure and an international coalition's efforts to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea.

The Houthis have a varied and evolving arsenal of weapons that include aerial “kamikaze drones” carrying a small but deadly explosive device, based on technology supplied by Iran.

But dealing with them means having to maintain a multinational flotilla of warships under the banner of the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian and the EU’s Aspides.

As well as having to fire expensive missiles, the navies involved in Red Sea operations have to deal with fuel and other costs.

While naval operations have saved the lives of civilian sailors by shooting down missiles and drones, the pace of attacks shows no sign of abating, according to experts in shipping crossing through the vital international trade lanes.

Several assessments have concluded air strikes have “not seriously degraded” the Houthis capabilities.