New microwave weapon can zap drone swarms without burning through missiles

What happened

BAE Systems has unveiled two air defense technologies designed to help the US Army counter mass drone attacks without relying entirely on conventional missiles. Unveiled at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2026 exhibition, the technologies offer different ways to tackle growing threats from unmanned aircraft.

The systems combine a high-power microwave weapon with an artillery platform that fires precision-guided projectiles against aerial and ground targets. One operates with directed energy to engage drones without conventional ammunition, while the other relies on high-velocity projectiles for kinetic interception.

Microwave weapon targets swarms BAE Systems’ High Power Microwave (HPM) system targets groups of drones using electromagnetic energy. It can engage successive threats as long as its power supply remains available, avoiding the ammunition resupply demands associated with conventional weapons.

Key facts

• One — uses: directed energy to engage drones without conventional ammunition, while the other relies on high-velocity projectiles for kinetic interception