Thales Energy Weapon Neutralises 80 Drones in Successful Trial

June 03, 2026

Thales in the UK are pleased to announce further successful trials of RapidDestroyer – a radio frequency directed energy weapon (RFDEW) designed to counter drone swarms. The trials took place in April at Pershore, Gloucestershire, in partnership with Teledyne E2V and marks another milestone in advancing RFDEW technologies.

Building on previous successes, RapidDestroyer neutralised 80 drones in individual scenarios. Thales and E2V demonstrated the upgraded 4 panel effector which enhances the focus of the effectors power, increasing the energy on the target and allowing for additional range of engagement to be achieved. This extensive testing enabled a forensic analysis of each engagement, demonstrating consistent, near-immediate defeat of each drone, removing the chance that the drones could re-engage.

RapidDestroyer is a UK based solution, integrated with Thales’ command and control (C2) and weapon control software, enhanced by artificial intelligence for optimal threat response and autonomous operation, while keeping the operator in the loop. 

Source : Thales