Thales UK says its RapidDestroyer radio-frequency directed-energy weapon neutralised 80 drones in a recent trial, with the company describing the system as an RFDEW designed to counter drone swarms. The test was carried out in April at Pershore, Gloucestershire, in partnership with Teledyne E2V.
According to Thales, the trial involved individual scenarios and allowed forensic analysis of each engagement. The company said the system delivered consistent, near-immediate defeats of the drones and that the upgraded four-panel effector increased the energy delivered to the target while extending engagement range.
Thales said the result builds on previous successes for RapidDestroyer and reflects further development of the platform rather than an operational deployment. The company positions the system within counter-UAS defence, where radio-frequency weapons are being tested as a non-kinetic option against drone threats.