BAE Systems is bringing a new high-power microwave (HPM) weapon to the fight against drones, offering a potential way to counter swarms without exhausting missile stockpiles.
Built with 99 percent off-the-shelf parts, the directed-energy weapon is intended to be easier and faster to produce, avoiding the cost overruns and delays that often plague military procurement.
Rather than using physical projectiles, the HPM weapon directs electromagnetic energy at airborne threats, generating microwave pulses that can fry electronic components at the “speed of light.”
Without bullets or missiles to expend, the system could offer a lower-cost way to protect critical sites and personnel, particularly against drone swarms and other high-volume threats that can quickly drain conventional ammunition stockpiles.
“The threat environment is evolving faster than traditional procurement cycles can keep up with,” said Jason Casciotti, vice president of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems.
“By leveraging a validated technical core and a resilient supply chain, we are delivering a high-maturity solution that ensures that as long as there is power, there is defense.”
Part of a Multi-Layered Solution
The HPM weapon is designed to complement conventional defenses in a layered system.
Traditional weapons would remain better suited to high-value threats that require precise engagements, while the microwave system could provide a cheaper option against larger numbers of targets.
BAE Systems said combining the two approaches could deliver a more cost-effective and comprehensive defense.
The company debuted the HPM weapon at the 2026 Association of the US Army Annual Meeting and Exposition, alongside its Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System.
