Thales RapidDestroyer RF Directed Energy Weapon Successfully Destroys 80 Drones in Latest Trials
UK-based Thales has announced another successful test series for its RapidDestroyer Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW), conducted in April at Pershore, Gloucestershire, in collaboration with Teledyne E2V. The trials saw the system destroy 80 drones, marking a significant milestone in counter-drone swarm technology development.
Highlights
- Thales UK's RapidDestroyer RFDEW successfully destroyed 80 drones during trials held in April 2025 at Pershore, Gloucestershire.
- The trials were conducted in collaboration with Teledyne E2V, a specialist electronic components manufacturer.
- The RapidDestroyer is designed specifically to counter large-scale drone swarm threats using radio frequency directed energy.
- RFDEW technology offers advantages over conventional weapons including rapid response, low cost-per-engagement, and sustained operational endurance.
- The successful trials signal that Thales's RFDEW system may be approaching broader operational deployment in the Counter-UAS domain.
UK defence technology company Thales has announced another successful series of trials for its RapidDestroyer Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW), a system specifically designed to counter drone swarm threats.
Trial Overview
The latest trials were conducted in April at Pershore, Gloucestershire, England, in partnership with specialist electronic components manufacturer Teledyne E2V. During the tests, the RapidDestroyer successfully neutralised up to 80 drones, representing a significant new milestone in the weapon system's ongoing development programme.
Technical Significance
Building on the results of previous test campaigns, these trials further validate the RFDEW technology's operational potential against large-scale drone swarm threats. Compared to conventional kinetic defence systems, radio frequency directed energy weapons offer key advantages including rapid response times, low cost-per-engagement, and sustained operational endurance — qualities that position RFDEW as one of the most promising solutions in the Counter-UAS (C-UAS) domain.
Industry Context
As drone swarm threats continue to grow in both military and non-military contexts, defence industries worldwide are actively seeking more efficient countermeasures. Thales's collaboration with Teledyne E2V demonstrates the integrated strength of the UK's defence technology ecosystem in the RFDEW space, and signals that the technology could be on a path toward broader operational deployment in the near future.
Source: Official Thales UK announcement
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