What’s New
British soldiers have successfully trialed a “game-changing” weapon that can take down a swarm of drones using radio waves for the first time.
The British Army’s Royal Artillery Trials and Development Unit and 7th Air Defense Group said in a Monday press release that they “successfully targeted and engaged Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS)” at a range in West Wales.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) via email for comment on what this means for the United States. Newsweek has also contacted the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) via email for comment.
Why It Matters
It comes as the U.S. and the United Kingdom, both members of NATO, are grappling with multiple drone sightings across each country, including American bases in the U.K., such as Royal Air Force Lakenheath, Mildenhall, and Feltwell.
Meanwhile, New York and New Jersey have temporarily banned drones from flying in certain areas. The drone reports began roughly a month ago, and a recent statement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said there have been over 5,000 sightings of drones across various states on the East Coast in recent weeks.
In a joint statement earlier this month, the FBI and DHS said that there was “no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.”
What To Know
Earlier this year, the British military announced that it was testing new weapons technology that is expected to be a “game-changer” on the battlefield, using nothing but invisible radio waves to take out enemy drones and vehicles from a range of up to a mile.
The Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) beams radio waves at a target, or group of targets, in order to destroy their on-board electronics. The RFDEW can be mounted on the back of a truck or other vehicles and is designed to operate across “land, air and sea,” according to the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense. Each use costs about 10 to 12 cents, making it an extremely cost-effective alternative to conventional missile defenses.
The British Army has now successfully trialed a demonstrator version of the RFDEW, as part of the government’s Plan for Change by rapidly advancing technologies and building on the strong foundation of national security.
“The user experimentation trials completed in recent months have enabled Army air defence personnel to explore and exercise the capability’s potential in different configurations across a variety of range environments, threat types and engagement scenarios,” the British Army said in a statement.
What People Are Saying
Minister for Defense Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, said: “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.
“It’s great to see defense experts and industry working collaboratively to put cutting-edge equipment in the hands of our Armed Forces. This is a demonstration of the U.K. remaining at the forefront of directed energy weapons and developing a crucial advantage against the emerging threats we face.”
Matt Cork, Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) program lead, said: “Getting this technology into the hands of our service personnel is hugely rewarding. Dstl has worked collaboratively with DE&S and industry which has meant the rapid evolution of radio frequency technology.”
What Happens Next
Nigel MacVean, managing director of Thales Integrated Airspace-protection Systems (IAS) said this trial “paves the way for a strong future in this field,” meaning the new weapons technology could shake things up for the U.K. and its allies in terms of their ability to respond to drones.
“The trials program will continue to enable further development and experimentation,” the British Army said.
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