New HPM Microwave Weapon Targets Mass Drone Attacks to Protect U.S. Army Bases and Deployed Forces.

BAE Systems has introduced its new High Power Microwave (HPM) directed-energy weapon at AUSA 2026 in Washington, D.C., designed to protect U.S. Army bases and deployed forces against mass drone attacks. By using electromagnetic energy to disable hostile drones without conventional ammunition, the system could help counter coordinated aerial threats while reducing reliance on costly interceptor missiles during sustained air defense operations.

BAE Systems' High-Power Microwave (HPM) directed-energy weapon displayed at AUSA 2026 in Washington, D.C., is designed to neutralize drone swarms using electromagnetic pulses without conventional ammunition. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Unlike traditional air defense systems, which destroy targets using missiles or projectiles, the HPM employs concentrated electromagnetic energy to disrupt or disable the electronic components of unmanned aircraft. This approach addresses a changing threat environment in which armed forces increasingly face coordinated attacks involving large numbers of inexpensive drones capable of overwhelming defenses through their numerical advantage rather than their individual technological sophistication.

Presented on October 12, 2026, at AUSA in Washington, the HPM was displayed alongside the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS), a separate artillery system designed to engage aerial threats using guided projectiles. The two weapons offer complementary options for layered air defense, combining electromagnetic and kinetic capabilities to counter drones while reducing reliance on limited stocks of interceptor missiles. Their introduction reflects growing U.S. Army interest in systems capable of sustaining repeated engagements against increasingly numerous aerial threats.

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The HPM operates by generating high-power microwave pulses directed toward threats approaching a protected area. Rather than physically striking an aircraft, the electromagnetic energy affects vulnerable electronic components, potentially disrupting flight control systems, onboard processors, and other circuits essential to its operation. Depending on the target's exposure and vulnerability, these effects can interrupt normal functioning or cause permanent electronic damage. The technology therefore uses an interception mechanism different from conventional surface-to-air missiles, which rely on kinetic impact or explosive warheads to destroy their targets.

Regarding its technical characteristics, BAE Systems reports that its HPM has reached Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6) following several outdoor testing campaigns. According to the manufacturer, these trials involved generating billions of microwave pulses and documenting their effects on targets. The weapon uses a modular architecture incorporating control units, command interfaces, and power supply equipment. This design also allows its operation to be adapted to different frequency bands without requiring a complete redesign. More than 99% of its components are commercially available off-the-shelf parts, an approach intended to simplify production and maintenance. However, BAE Systems has not disclosed the radiated power, engagement range, or maximum number of drones that can be neutralized simultaneously.

One of the system's main characteristics is its ability to conduct repeated engagements without consuming physical ammunition. BAE Systems describes this feature as a "bottomless magazine," meaning the weapon can continue generating electromagnetic pulses as long as sufficient electrical power remains available. This eliminates the need to reload interceptors after each engagement, although sustained operation still depends on electricity generation, system availability, and thermal management. For units facing successive waves of drones, reduced ammunition consumption could ease the logistical requirements associated with maintaining continuous air defense coverage.

A concept demonstration released by the manufacturer shows the HPM mounted on a trailer and connected to sensors capable of identifying aerial threats approaching the defended area. Following detection, the weapon directs microwave energy toward the drones. This configuration illustrates its potential use in protecting fixed or semi-fixed positions equipped with an electrical supply and surveillance network capable of supporting prolonged operations. The system nevertheless remains at the prototype stage, with decisions concerning operational qualification and potential procurement resting with U.S. authorities.

The HPM could provide an additional layer of protection against coordinated attacks targeting command posts, ammunition depots, logistics centers, and troop concentrations. Its ability to engage threats without expending missiles would allow commanders to reserve conventional interceptors for targets requiring longer engagement ranges or different interception methods. Within a layered defense architecture, radars and other surveillance sensors could detect approaching aircraft, while microwave weapons, artillery, and missile systems would engage threats according to their characteristics. Such an arrangement would be particularly relevant against saturation attacks intended to exhaust available ammunition stocks before additional strikes are launched against defended positions.

BAE Systems also presents MDACS as another component of this defensive approach. The artillery system uses guided Hypervelocity Projectiles (HVP) to intercept aerial threats, while its Scorpio-XR ammunition is designed to conduct precision strikes against ground targets. Although the two systems are not specifically intended to operate together, their different engagement mechanisms could contribute to a broader architecture combining directed-energy weapons, artillery, and conventional surface-to-air missiles. The company is also working with the U.S. Army on MDACS development, including its potential integration with existing sensor networks and the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS).

The introduction of the HPM comes as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East demonstrate how relatively inexpensive drones can impose disproportionate financial and logistical costs on defending forces. For the United States and its allies, electromagnetic weapons offer a potential means of addressing this imbalance without relying exclusively on costly interceptor missiles. Their future integration into air defense networks could influence how NATO forces protect deployed units and critical infrastructure, particularly in regions where large-scale drone attacks threaten to exceed the capacity of conventional defensive systems.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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