The British Army has tested a radio frequency directed energy weapon system developed by a consortium led by Thales UK. The consortium includes key subcontractors QinetiQ, Teledyne e2v and Horiba Mira.
The trial took place at a range in West Wales, where the Royal Artillery Trials and Development Unit, along with the 7 Air Defence Group, employed the RFDEW system to engage uncrewed aerial systems. The Ministry of Defence said this activity and other recent trials, part of the government’s Plan for Change initiative, were carried out in various environments and against different threats.
Thales describes its RFDEW system, known as RapidDestroyer, as a “hard-kill mechanism” designed to neutralize multiple threats simultaneously, making it effective against emerging threats such as drone swarms. Unlike systems that jam or confuse incoming threats, RapidDestroyer emits high-intensity RF waves to inflict physical damage on sensitive electronic components of the target.
Cost-Effective Air Defense
According to the U.K. Ministry of Defence, the system has a range of up to 1 kilometer and can neutralize targets at an estimated cost of $0.13 per shot, making it a cost-effective alternative to traditional missile-based air defense systems. The highly automated solution allows for single-person operation and can be mounted on military vehicles for enhanced mobility.
The MoD announced that Team HERSA, a joint venture between Defence Equipment & Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, will continue trials and collaborate with operators to develop the next generation of RFDEWs.
These trials represent the U.K. government’s ongoing efforts to ensure operational readiness against evolving electronic warfare threats. In August, it awarded QinetiQ a contract to build a specialized RF anti-jamming testing facility in Wiltshire, England. The facility, referred to as the “silent hangar,” is set to open in 2026 and will enable the military to assess equipment performance in GPS-denied environments.