DRDO unveils model of high-power microwave directed-energy system aimed at defeating drone swarms

Bengaluru: India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has unveiled a model of a high-power microwave (HPM) directed-energy weapon being developed to counter unmanned aircraft systems, including swarm threats. The system is being developed by DRDO’s Microwave Tube Research and Development Centre (MTRDC) in Bengaluru.

According to reporting from the defence publication Janes, a scale model of the HPM system was showcased during the 2026 International Conference on Electronic Warfare (EWCI) held from 20 to 22 January 2026. Project details shared during the event indicated the programme began in 2019 and that the prototype is currently in the trials and testing phase.

What the system is designed to do

High-power microwave systems are designed to affect electronics by flooding a target area with intense microwave energy, potentially disrupting sensors, communications links or onboard control electronics. For counter-UAS missions, such systems are attractive because they can be used against small drones that are otherwise difficult and costly to intercept individually—especially when multiple drones appear at once.

The Janes report said the prototype has disabled small quadcopter commercial UAVs during testing at ranges up to around 1 km, indicating early progress while broader performance goals and operational deployment timelines continue to be evaluated.

Why this matters now

Drone and swarm threats have become a central focus for militaries and security agencies worldwide, because low-cost unmanned systems can be used for reconnaissance, disruption, or attacks on critical sites. For India, indigenous directed-energy systems add a potential layer to the counter-drone toolkit alongside radar, jammers, interceptor drones and kinetic options.