Thales tests RapidDestroyer radio frequency weapon against quadcopters

A computer generated image of Thales' RapidDestroyer RFDEW. (Thales)

Thales UK announced on 2 June 2026 that it had conducted a successful trial of its RapidDestroyer radio frequency directed energy weapon (RFDEW) against small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The trials, conducted in April in Pershore, Gloucestershire, UK, were held in partnership UK component manufacturer Teledyne E2V.

A Thales representative told Janes on 9 June that a series of quadcopter UAVs from the company Aerial Marks (their Target model), weighing 1 kg each, were downed individually by the RapidDestroyer. No swarm activity was tested.

80 of the quadcopter UAVs in total were downed, which Thales said “demonstrated the upgraded four panel effector which enhances the focus of the effector's power, increasing the energy on the target and allowing for additional range of engagement.” The company added that analysis of each engagement showed “consistent, near-immediate defeat of each drone.”

One iteration of RapidDestroyer was demonstrated by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) against a UAVs in a test in Wales in December 2024. Thales added that the UK MoD has not procured this system and it is not part of a current MoD contract.

In April 2025 the MoD said another iteration of the system had for the first time downed two swarms of UAVs at its air defence range at Manorbier in West Wales.

Announced in September 2021 the Project Ealing has been delivered by Team Hersa – a collaboration between the MoD's Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and its Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).

Developed by a Thales UK-led industry consortium, the demonstrator has been designed to explore the potential of radiofrequency weapons for UK Armed Forces.