In a major milestone for modern warfare, British soldiers have successfully neutralised swarms of drones using a cutting-edge UK-developed directed energy weapon during a large-scale trial in

West Wales. This marks the British Army’s largest counter-drone swarm exercise to date.

The new weapon—known as a Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW)—uses high-frequency radio waves to disrupt or destroy the electronic components inside drones, causing them to crash or malfunction. Unlike traditional missile-based systems, this innovative technology can target multiple threats simultaneously with near-instantaneous results.

One of the most compelling advantages of the RF DEW system is its cost efficiency. Each shot costs just around 10 pence, offering a highly affordable alternative to conventional air defence options. With an effective range of up to one kilometre, it is particularly useful against drones that are resistant to standard electronic jamming techniques.

To date, the UK government has invested over £40 million into RF DEW research and development. The project currently supports more than 135 highly skilled jobs across Northern Ireland and the South-East of England.

This successful trial comes at a time when drone warfare is becoming a defining feature of modern conflict. In Ukraine, drone swarms have become a common tactic on the front lines, with UK Defence Intelligence estimating that over 18,000 drone attacks occurred last year alone.

As part of its broader national security strategy, the UK government is ramping up its commitment to emerging military technologies. Starting in 2025-26, at least 10% of the Ministry of Defence’s equipment procurement budget will go toward novel technologies. This follows the announcement of the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, with the UK aiming to allocate 2.5% of GDP to defence by April 2027. Photo by Josh Sorenson, Wikimedia commons.