The UK’s armed forces are developing a new weapon that uses radio waves to disable enemy electronics and take down multiple drones at once.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the system can neutralise a swarm of drones for just 10p a shot.

The system, which is defined as a Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW), is capable of detecting, tracking and engaging with a range of threats across land, air and sea. It will be able to affect targets up to 1km away, with further development in extending the range ongoing. It beams radio waves to disrupt or damage the critical electronic components of enemy vehicles, causing them to stop in their tracks or fall out of the sky.

The MoD said that due to its cheap operational costs, the device is a significant cost-effective alternative to traditional missile-based air defence systems. It also uses automated technologies that mean it can be operated by a single person or act as a solution to the protection and defence of critical assets...