A ground-breaking new weapon that uses radio waves to take down drones is in development for the UK's armed forces.
As per The Telegraph, the new weapon known as the Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW), disrupts or damages critical electronic components of enemy vehicles and drones, causing them to halt or crash.
However, this technology can be used on land, air, and sea, boasts a range of up to 1 kilometer, with potential for future extension.
While, the revelation of this weapon follows UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's commitment to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030.
Costing around 0.10 Pounds (0.12 dollars) per radio waveshot, RFDEW is positioned as a cost-effective alternative to traditional missiles, suitable for countering drone swarms.
The weapon, employing a mobile power source, emits pulses of radio frequency energy, capable of targeting single or multiple adversaries.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge said, "We are already a force to be reckoned with on science and technology."
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) collaborate on the development under Project Hersa.
However, the weapon's efficacy will be thoroughly tested by British soldiers in the upcoming summer.
Moreover, DSTL chief executive Paul Hollinshead said, "These game-changing systems will deliver decisive operational advantage to the UK armed forces, saving lives and defeating deadly threats."
