On April 17, the UK government agency Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) reported that the British Army had conducted new tests of its radiofrequency directed energy weapon (RF DEW) system, which is on track to become a key component of drone defense networks. According to the report, the tests were carried out by personnel from the 106th Regiment Royal Artillery, who successfully demonstrated the system’s ability to bring down two drone swarms in a single engagement.
Commenting on the system’s features, Sergeant Mayers—who became the first British soldier to use this technology to neutralize targets—stated: “RF DEW is an exciting concept (…) We found the demonstrator easy to learn and operate. With improvements in range and power, which could come with further development, it would be a great asset for layered air defense.”
Expanding on some details of the so-called “Project Ealing,” it should be noted that the effort is being developed by a joint team from the aforementioned Defence Equipment & Support and the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. The RF DEW demonstrator was built by Thales, through its British subsidiary, with the primary goal of delivering a weapon capable of disrupting or damaging the electronic systems of enemy drones—causing them to crash or become unable to complete their mission.
It is also known that the tests conducted at the Manorbier air defense range (located in Wales) involved over 100 drones, all of which were brought down by the RF DEW system—demonstrating its ability to counter multiple targets simultaneously. Given that its operational cost is estimated at less than one British pound per shot, the system is significantly more cost-effective than current drone defense solutions based on missiles or munitions—one of the main reasons behind the development of this technology. In terms of range, reports indicate the weapon is effective against targets up to 1 kilometer away, suggesting it will be used in conjunction with other electronic warfare elements for short-range defense.
Finally, it’s worth noting that this is not the only project the UK is pursuing to strengthen its drone defense capabilities. One particularly notable development is the DragonFire system. With deployment expected in 2027, the UK Ministry of Defence is already working on selecting ships that will be equipped with the advanced weapon, developed by a consortium led by MBDA. It is anticipated to become part of the air defense armament of the Type 45 destroyer fleet in the near future.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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