High-power microwave system downs 49 drones in one shot – weaponized electromagnetic interference erases drone swarms en masse
https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/high-power-microwave-system-downs-49-drones-in-one-shot-weaponized-electromagnetic-interference-erases-drone-swarms-en-masse
91 points · 20 comments · view on lemmy.world
20 Comments
Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 342d
We could really use a few hundred of these systems here in Ukraine (if they worked as advertised, but it seems they do work).
They are mobile too which is great.
vk6flab@lemmy.radio · 22 pts · 342d
What's unclear from the article is what exactly is being disrupted, since microwave radiation (from your microwave oven) is on the same frequency band as 2.4 GHz WiFi, which provides one potential failure mode for a remotely operated drone. Specifically the disruption of communication between the drone(s) and the controller.
However, if the drone is autonomous and not using WiFi at all, the same 2.4 GHz frequency is unlikely to cause damage, unless it's inducing currents in the on-board CPU or other circuits. This is an entirely different failure mode.
A comment in the article mentions that the drone returns to a safe area, which is what tends to happen if WiFi connectivity is lost.
Furthermore, there's no information about the actual "microwave frequency", which goes well beyond 2.4 GHz, technically ranging between 300 MHz and 300 GHz.
cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de · 9 pts · 342d
If it can put out enough RF, it will fry the electronics. It will probably be quite effective against the crude, flying IEDs that are being used in Russia and Ukraine since they have little to no shielding.
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 342d
yeah that could be a hell of a trick but I'm not sure it's possible... perhaps if they're beamforming with phased array radar systems and can pump out a lot more juice...
betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 342d
Looks like they thought of that. From the first article linked in my reply to your other comment (one with headline "US Army awards contract..."):
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 342d
yeah that's the idea but the level of precision is really quite tricky when your target is a pcb hovering ??? away and not standing still. basic beamforming is easy, the trick here would be damned impressive.
like change wars impressive, and I don't mean (only) ukraine.
betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 342d
They've also got a drone-mounted version that can get right up close and blast them with angry pixie hate. Was poking around their site a little and even when you account for how much is probably marketing wank or testing under ideal cases, these look pretty good.
Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 342d
I was going through their site and it looked almost too good to be true.
If it works as advertised, our government should make a clone of this (our productions and operational costs are always going to be significantly less than in the US), perhaps even under license.
betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 342d
Think it's time to start putting together a letter to some politicians here in support of adding these to a future aid package. I don't expect to convince anyone alone but maybe I can add my raindrop to a flood if others have the same idea. This is potentially life-saving tech (if it can get to where it's needed, anyway) and exactly what I want my tax money doing.
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 342d
oof.
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 2 pts · 341d
Lol, angry pixie hate
pirateKaiser@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 336d
Isn't that easily mitigated with a simple Faraday cage tho?
cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 335d
A Faraday cage would help if it's controlled by fiber and doesn't have any antennas. That adds even more weight to a drone that's already carrying a heavy payload though.
oneser@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 342d
It's defence tech though, so the article is intentionally vague.
Magnum@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 341d
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 342d
"Leonidas was even used to take down a drone and ensure it dropped into a “software-defined, pre-identified safe zone.” How tidy."
yeah this makes me think you're right, it's control override, not frying their boardsmaybe they're getting sparky?if this system can take down a squad of fiber drones as easily, I'm all in.
betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 342d
Other articles on the system suggest that it is capable of frying boards. Here's one:
And another:
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 342d
TY for the links!
nymnympseudonym@piefed.social · 3 pts · 342d
Indeed! I just went from pessimistic (prolly just signal jammers) to OMFG the situation on the ground is about to change
betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 342d
Happy for the excuse to go digging. Really interesting stuff.
yamaonan@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 340d
Tech Ingredients on Youatube did a video about this. (Sorry, it's YT): https://youtu.be/V6XdcWToy2c