A new radio frequency (RF) directed energy weapon from Thales has swept through 80 drones in recent trials, signaling growing readiness for battlefield deployment against unmanned threats.
The “RapidDestroyer” features a four-panel effector designed to concentrate more energy on a target compared to earlier legacy systems.
The panels also improve targeting precision and energy focus, supporting engagements at longer ranges.
Unlike laser-based directed energy weapons that rely on concentrated light and heat to physically damage targets, the RapidDestroyer emits high-intensity RF waves that disrupt electronic systems and interfere with sensitive components of hostile drones.
During the trials, Thales said the system destroyed targets quickly and reliably.
It also reportedly rendered the drones unable to recover, resume their mission, or launch further attacks.
Thales describes RapidDestroyer as a UK-developed system integrated with its own command-and-control and weapon control software.
The platform is supported by artificial intelligence, which assists in detecting and responding to threats more efficiently, while keeping a human operator in the loop for monitoring and approval.
RapidDestroyer completed its latest trials in April at Pershore, Gloucestershire, with support from England-based Teledyne e2v.
