2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (MENAFN)
( MENAFN - Asia Times) The US and China are locked in a high-stakes race to master drone-killing technology, with both superpowers aiming to outgun drone swarms that promise to reshape the future of warfare. This month, The War Zone reported that China's directed-energy counter-drone efforts are advancing, with multiple high-power microwave systems showcased at the Zhuhai Airshow 2024. Among the highlights were three large mobile ground-based high-power microwave-directed energy weapons, designed primarily to neutralize drones.
The War Zone report mentions these systems, developed by China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC) and Norinco , include a microwave system mounted on an 8×8 light armored vehicle and another on a Shacman SX2400/2500-series 8×8 truck. It notes these systems feature planar arrays and radars for target detection and tracking. The Zhuhai Airshow event underscored the rising global demand for counter-drone capabilities, driven by the increasing use of the weapons in armed conflicts, notably in Ukraine.
While The War Zone report points out that the capabilities of these new systems remain unclear, their development and deployment reflect China's strategic focus on countering aerial threats. The War Zone also reported this month that the US Army has achieved 170 successful drone kills using its Coyote Block 2 interceptors in various global operations, underscoring the anti-drone weapon's increasing centrality in tackling uncrewed aerial threats. The War Zone report said the US has deployed Coyote interceptors at 36 unspecified sites outside of the United States, including regions under US Central Command (CENTCOM), US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and US European Command (EUCOM).
The report says that the Coyote Block 2, produced by US defense contractor Raytheon , uses a high-explosive warhead and is part of the Low, Slow, Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (LIDS), which includes mobile and fixed-site components. It notes that the US Army plans to expand its arsenal with up to 6,700 new Coyote interceptors and additional launchers and radars by 2029. The War Zone states that the US Army is also developing Block 3 variants with non-kinetic payloads and exploring other counter-drone technologies, including directed energy weapons and electronic warfare systems.
This layered approach aims to address evolving drone threats, as demonstrated by the integration of LIDS into broader air and missile defense networks. Directed-energy weapons (DEW) such as high-power microwaves (HPM) and small drone interceptors present distinct advantages and challenges in countering drone swarms. DEWs such as HPMs offer the potential for rapid, precise targeting with theoretically limitless ammunition and are thus ideal for neutralizing multiple drones in quick succession.
They inflict minimal collateral damage and can engage threats beyond the range of conventional projectiles. However, they face critical limitations in terms of power requirements and environmental conditions. Sustained operation demands substantial energy supplies, which can be impractical in remote areas or high-intensity engagements.
Small drone interceptors bring versatility and adaptability, particularly in cluttered or urban environments. They can maneuver to engage drones at close range, allowing for defensive strategies within complex, constrained spaces. They can also be rapidly deployed and operate autonomously, making them scalable and flexible.
However, their endurance is limited by battery life, while engaging large, fast-moving swarms can quickly exhaust interceptor stocks. In high-intensity scenarios, interceptors may struggle to keep pace with large, coordinated swarms, particularly against increasingly sophisticated adversary drones, positioning DEWs like HPMs as potentially more effective against high-volume attacks. The potential decisive effect of drone swarms over the Taiwan Strait may be a significant impetus for the US and China to develop counter-drone technologies.
In an October 2024 Business Insider article , Tom Porter discusses the escalating threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, highlighting the pivotal role drone swarms would play in such a conflict. Porter says that China, a leading drone manufacturer, could deploy vast fleets of unmanned aerial and naval drones to overwhelm Taiwan's defenses and guide precision missile strikes. He points out that the US and Taiwan, currently lagging in drone capabilities, are working to bolster their defenses through initiatives like the US's“Hellscape” plan , which aims to fill the Taiwan Strait with unmanned submarines, surface ships and aerial drones.
Porter stresses Taiwan and the US need to enhance their drone production and air defense systems to counter China's numerical and technological drone superiority. He underscores the urgency for the US and Taiwan to develop autonomous drones and electronic warfare capabilities to neutralize the Chinese drone threat. While the extensive use of small and expendable drones has become the hallmark of the ongoing Ukraine war, with significant implications for a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, experts are divided on their strategic impact on warfare.
On the one hand, Dominika Kunertova says in a September 2024 Center for Security Studies report that large and small drones have shown remarkable adaptability in tactical applications, making high-intensity, cost-effective aerial support widely accessible. Kunertova details how inexpensive, commercially available drones have empowered Ukrainian forces by enhancing real-time battlefield awareness and enabling innovative, low-cost attack strategies. She points out how small drones, such as quadcopters and loitering munitions, have proven valuable for reconnaissance and precision strikes, often operating as disposable assets.
She mentions the deployment of AI-enabled autonomous drones signals a move toward full-spectrum drone warfare, highlighting the technological diffusion and ethical, operational, and policy challenges of integrating these systems into military frameworks. According to Kunertova, this evolution signals a shift toward algorithmic warfare, with Ukraine serving as a testing ground for future drone-based conflict dynamics. On the other hand, Stacie Pettyjohn argues in a February 2024 Center for a New American Security (CNAS) report that drones in the Ukraine war represent an“evolution” rather than a“revolution” in warfare.
Pettyjohn says that while drones have altered the battlefield, offering new tactical innovations and capabilities, they have not yet achieved the transformative change that defines a military revolution. She points out that most drones used in Ukraine have been small, manually piloted and lacking in significant networking capabilities, confining their impact to localized effects. She mentions that Russian and Ukrainian forces engage in rapid cycles of innovation and adaptation, quickly emulating each other's technological advances and thus limiting any one side's ability to gain a decisive advantage.
Additionally, she says new drone developments have swiftly become accessible to both sides due to the widespread availability of commercial and dual-use technologies. Pettyjohn notes that drones in Ukraine serve primarily as intelligence platforms and artillery spotters, supplementing traditional artillery but falling short as substitutes for mass artillery fire. She says that as drones grow more autonomous and integrated with other weapons, they may reshape military doctrines and organizations.
However, she asserts that so far, their contribution remains an incremental enhancement of existing military practices rather than a groundbreaking shift. Thank you for registering! An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.
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