Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons

[Foxbat]

I remember a few years ago watching the documentary on the Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan as it transited the Black Sea close to Crimea (I think 2015). It was being buzzed by around 15 Russian jets. The captain made a call on the radio instructing the Russian pilots to stay beyond a distance of two miles because (apparently) the Sampson Radar used for air defence had a powerful enough pulse to knock out the avionics of their aircraft.

Now, today is the first time I've heard of Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons (RFDEW). This was in relation to the new Type 26 frigates and how they may be configured to carry such a weapon. It's being touted as a cheap way of dealing with multiple drones (10 pence per shot). Much cheaper than missiles if effective.

It is being trialled by the MOD.

British Army tests radiofrequency weapon on drones for the first time

British soldiers have successful tested a potentially game-changing weapon that can take down a swarm of drones using radio waves.

des.mod.uk

Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The Type 26 Frigate – more than just a submarine hunter | Navy Lookout

www.navylookout.com

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Well, they ask you to shut off your phones during flights for this reason. Something a bit more intense can presumably be used as a weapon.

 

[Robert Zwilling]

There is a lot of information missing here which probably can't be released. Did the drones circuitry have any microwave shielding to protect it? Was their flight controlled by live external radio signals or were they operating by using preprogramed commands.

 

[Dave]

I guess they are prevented from stopping the problem of drones around airports in this way, because it would affect airplanes too, but it's been on the TV News all day today about the problem of drones at our Prisons. That should be 'simples' and stop mobile phone use at the same time? Am I missing something here?

 

[mosaix]

I guess they are prevented from stopping the problem of drones around airports in this way, because it would affect airplanes too, but it's been on the TV News all day today about the problem of drones at our Prisons. That should be 'simples' and stop mobile phone use at the same time? Am I missing something here?

I was thinking the same @Dave.

Many prisons are in built up areas, I wonder if the 'electronics' in modern cars would be vulnerable?

Edit: And, come to think of it, electronic prison locks?

 

[Swank]

Modern cars are definitely affected by EMPs.

 

[Foxbat]

I guess they are prevented from stopping the problem of drones around airports in this way, because it would affect airplanes too, but it's been on the TV News all day today about the problem of drones at our Prisons. That should be 'simples' and stop mobile phone use at the same time? Am I missing something here?

On the subject of prisons, I wondered why a low tech solution like netting stretched across open areas or wire mesh attached to windows wasn’t being used. It turns out that these solutions are available so I can only assume that cost is the reason they’re not in place.

KnitMesh Technologies | Knitted Wire Mesh | Drone-stop™/ Prison Mesh

Prison Mesh: The Most Effective Solution for Drone Protection KnitMesh Technologies, the UK’s leading supplier of world-class mesh products, has launched

knitmeshtechnologies.com

 

[paranoid marvin]

Anything we know - or think we know - about offensive and defensive weapons will only be the tip of the iceberg - what can't be hidden, and what could be used to fool a potential opponent. SDI or 'Star Wars' in the 80s was a hugely successful deception as far as the USA was concerned.

The way the world is today, it is imperative to have anti-missile and anti-drone weapons; there's no point in having a $10-20bn warship that can be neutralised by a $500 drone.

The most obvious way (other than trying to shoot them down) is to devise methods of scrambling their remote sensors with anti radio and other types of devices.

 

[Parson]

I would say that we are seeing the way of war changing in real time. That's especially true the Ukraine conflict. Air superiority is starting to mean something very different and the effectiveness of things like tanks and war ships are being seriously eroded because they can be dealt with at least to some degree remotely and with comparatively little risk.

As often is the case this whole idea of drone warfare was foreseen by a lot of SF writers decades ago. Just one example would be the "hunter/killers" of Dune.