Lockheed Martin unveils low-cost weapon that destroys drone swarms in seconds - Sarmad
Lockheed Martin has unveiled a system that uses high-power microwave energy to destroy drone swarms within seconds, paving the way for a new era of low-cost defenses against growing aerial threats.
The system operates as a ground-launched aerial interception platform, using high-energy microwave pulses to disable the electronic systems of drones and take them out of service, rather than destroying them with traditional missiles.
The company confirmed that the system can neutralize more than 50 drones in a single mission, making it an effective and cost-efficient option for countering intense attacks.
Among its key advantages is the ability to recover the system after a mission and reuse it multiple times, reducing interception costs compared to systems that rely on single-use munitions, while also providing military forces with greater operational flexibility.
Lockheed Martin explained that the system is designed to be compatible with various air defense networks, as it does not depend on a specific type of sensor or fire-control radar, and can be easily integrated with existing command and control systems without requiring additional equipment.
Randy Kretz, Vice President and General Manager of the company’s Missile Programs and Advanced Control Systems, stated that the weapon represents a new generation of counter-drone solutions, combining high target-neutralization capability with low operating costs, while leveraging lightweight, field-reusable microwave technology.
He noted that the company is currently accelerating the production of the system’s prototypes and its operational microwave payload, with the aim of delivering them to military units as soon as possible, in response to the growing demand for more efficient defense means against low-cost drones.
The system has already passed a series of flight tests in the U.S. states of Arizona, California, and Oklahoma, where it proved successful in executing interception missions and disabling targets. The company is preparing to conduct additional rounds of tests in the coming months to complete the development phases.
