The British Army, in collaboration with Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), and Thales UK, has completed a series of trials of the RapidDestroyer system aimed at countering drone swarms.
Conducted at a weapons range in West Wales, the trials involved engaging and neutralizing two swarms of drones in a simulated threat scenario. According to the Ministry of Defence, this was the largest counter-drone swarm exercise carried out by the British Army to date.
RapidDestroyer is a type of Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW), developed by a consortium led by Thales UK. It uses high-frequency radio waves to disrupt or damage electronic components inside drones, causing them to crash or malfunction. The system applies a so-called ‘hard kill’ approach, delivering physical effects on target drones rather than relying on jamming or software disruption.
During the trial series, over 100 drones were tracked, targeted, and neutralized using the RF DEW system. This counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) technology is designed to engage multiple targets simultaneously and has demonstrated near-instantaneous effects at ranges of up to one kilometer.
The UK Government has invested over GBP40 million in RF DEW development. At an estimated 10 pence per shot, the technology could offer a lower-cost alternative or supplement to missile-based air defense systems if adopted for operational use.
These trials take place against the backdrop of increasing use of drone swarms in conflict zones, notably in Ukraine, where UK Defence Intelligence reports indicate over 18,000 drone attacks were countered last year.
The project is part of the government’s broader investment in advanced defense technologies, with a commitment to allocate at least 10% of the Ministry of Defence’s equipment procurement budget to novel technologies from 2025-26.
The demonstrator project, named Team Hersa, is a joint initiative between DE&S, Dstl, and industry partners, with Thales UK leading the development of the RapidDestroyer system.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
