Raytheon Technology successfully tests high-power microwave capabilities against drones

Raytheon Technology recently participated in a Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment (MFIX) at the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, in which its advanced high-power microwave and laser dune buggy engaged and destroyed 45 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Raytheon’s high-power microwave system engaged multiple UAV swarms, downing 33 drones, two and three at a time.

“The speed and low cost per engagement of directed energy is revolutionary in protecting our troops against drones,” Dr. Thomas Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems vice president, said. “We have spent decades perfecting the high-power microwave system, which may soon give our military a significant advantage against this proliferating threat.”

Also at MFIX, Raytheon’s high energy laser, or HEL, system identified, tracked, engaged and downed 12 airborne, maneuvering Class I and II UAVs. HEL also destroyed six stationary mortar projectiles.

“Our customer needed a solution, and they needed it fast,” Dr. Ben Allison, director of Raytheon’s HEL product line, said. “So, we took what we’ve learned and combined it with combat-proven components to rapidly deliver a small, self-contained and easily deployed counter-UAV system.”

Raytheon worked with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory under a $2 million contract to test and demonstrate high-power microwave counter-UAV technologies.