DRDO shows model of high-power microwave system aimed at countering drone swarms, report says
DRDO has unveiled a model of a high-power microwave directed-energy system under development to defeat swarms of drones, according to defence publication Janes. The system, developed by DRDO’s MTRDC in Bengaluru, is reported to be in trials and has demonstrated the ability to disable small quadcopter-class UAVs at up to around a kilometre.
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has unveiled a model of a high-power microwave (HPM) directed-energy system intended to counter drone swarms, as the security establishment increasingly focuses on counter-UAS capabilities for both military and critical-infrastructure protection.
Defence publication Janes reported that the prototype is being developed by DRDO’s Microwave Tube Research and Development Centre (MTRDC) in Bengaluru, and that the model was displayed during an electronic warfare conference held in the city.
According to the report, the HPM programme began in 2019 and the prototype is currently undergoing trials and testing. During demonstrations and tests, the system has been able to disable small commercial quadcopter-type unmanned aerial vehicles, with Janes citing a trial range of up to around 1 km for such targets.
High-power microwave systems are designed to disrupt or damage electronics through intense bursts of electromagnetic energy, offering a potential option for defeating multiple drones quickly without relying on traditional kinetic interceptors. Such systems are being explored globally as drone swarms and low-cost UAVs become more common in conflict zones.
While the prototype’s eventual performance envelope, fielding timeline and operational concepts will depend on test outcomes, the unveiling underscores India’s push to expand its directed-energy toolkit alongside other counter-drone measures such as radar networks, jammers and laser-based systems.