High Power Microwave Technology: An Invisible Countermeasure to Drones
High-power microwave (HPM) systems offer distinct advantages in countering low-altitude, slow-speed, and small (LSS) drones, particularly when addressing drone swarms. Their potential role on future battlefields is significant. These systems use powerful electromagnetic pulses to interfere with or damage a target’s internal electronic systems. Depending on the effect, this can result in soft kill outcomes, such as disruption or temporary disablement, or hard kill outcomes, such as permanent electronic damage. What exactly are microwaves? What are their key properties, and how can high-power microwave energy affect a drone’s onboard electronics? This article explains the underlying principles. 1 What Are Microwaves? Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic wave. Electromagnetic waves are oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space, carrying energy and momentum. They do not require an elastic medium to travel and can propagate through a vacuum. Their speed in a ...