Drones are getting cheaper, stronger, and smarter by the day, and that’s changing the face of air combat. Military and security teams around the world are now in a dash to catch up. Lasers can blast hostile drones out of the air in a flash, while microwave weapons take down whole swarms. The past couple of years have seen some big leaps forward in anti-drone technology.
Why Traditional Counter-Drone Solutions Are Struggling
The Ukraine conflict has laid bare a tough truth that traditional air defence systems are no match for drones. Russia recently unleashed over 805 drones and missiles in a single weekend in September 2025. According to Ukrainian intel, Russia is now capable of churning out up to 2,700 Shahed attack drones each month.
Traditional missile interceptors are pricey, which makes them hard to justify financially when dealing with drones. Israel’s Iron Dome system, for example, is highly effective but also comes with a hefty price tag of around £40,000 per shot. On top of that, it can struggle with sustained drone attacks.
Electronic warfare jamming systems, long considered the best way to do things, are losing their edge. This has sped up work on three game-changing technologies. Lasers that focus energy on a specific target, high-power microwaves, and kinetic nets.
Laser Anti Drone Systems: Precision at the Speed of Light
High-energy laser anti drone weapons have gone from being in the experimental phase to being ready for combat a lot faster.
Iron Beam: Israel’s Operational Laser Shield
Israel flipped the switch on its Iron Beam laser system in September 2025, marking it as the first high-powered laser defence system in the world to be ready for military use. The system, which packs a 100-kilowatt punch. It proved itself by shooting down rockets, mortars and drones in various real-world scenarios.
Key capabilities include:
- The system has a range of 10 kilometres for typical threats.
- It can take out targets in almost no time – just 4 seconds.
- Another plus is that it’s incredibly cheap to use, as it only costs the power it consumes.
- It’s also designed to work with Israel’s existing Iron Dome batteries.
According to the Defence Minister, Israel is now the first country to have this technology.
Apollo: Australia’s 150-Kilowatt Drone Destroyer
Australian defence manufacturer Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has just unveiled the Apollo. It’s already landed the world’s first export contract with a NATO country. The deal was inked in August 2025.
Apollo’s specifications represent a quantum leap:
- Takes out drones from 9 kg to 600 kg
- Drops up to 20 Group 1 drones per minute
- 360° coverage with super-fast 700-millisecond targeting
- Can blast 200 drones on a single charge
- No limit to shots when plugged into an external power source
- Cost per kill: under 10p
“The demand is urgent and accelerating,” stated Dr Andreas Schwer, EOS Group CEO. “EOS has invested for years to bring this capability to a level of maturity.”
The system is compact enough to fit inside a standard 20-foot shipping container, which makes it very mobile.
US Military Acceleration: The E-HEL Programme
The US Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office put out a call for information late last year for its E-HEL programme – the Army’s first official programme for laser systems to take down drones.
Programme objectives:
- Buy up to 20 laser defence systems with an expandable design
- Take down 1-3 unmanned drones in a single group
- Set up quickly with a streamlined, portable setup
- Add the tech to Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with ease
- Award decision expected in Q2 of 2026
The programme emphasises “leveraging range proven laser and beam control technologies,” signalling a shift from experimental systems to production-ready platforms.
High-Power Microwave Systems: The Swarm Killer
Laser technology is great for precision targeting, but microwave drone countermeasures can take down multiple drones at once.
Leonidas: 100% Success Rate Against 61 Drones
In August 2025, defence technology company Epirus put its Leonidas high-power microwave system to the test at a live-fire exercise. It performed flawlessly, taking down all 61 drones tested for a 100% success rate.
The standout demo saw a 49-drone swarm brought down with just one electromagnetic interference pulse.
How Leonidas works:
- This device emits custom-made, long-wave microwave energy across several frequency bands.
- It uses tough Gallium Nitride semiconductors instead of easily broken magnetron vacuum tubes.
- When it hits a drone, it overloads the electronics, causing the system to fail.
- It doesn’t need to detect the specific signal the drone is using.
“This is a watershed moment for Epirus,” said CEO Andy Lowery. “Leonidas is the only mission-capable, counter-swarm solution for the one-to-many fight.”
Mobile Microwave: Leonidas Autonomous Robotic
Epirus teamed up with General Dynamics Land Systems to develop the Leonidas AR. This system equips Leonidas with the TRX, a 10-ton, track-driven unmanned ground vehicle. The result is a mobile system that can move through challenging areas without human help.
Leonidas AR capabilities:
- Reaches speeds of up to 45 mph
- Can go over 300 miles on one charge
- Provides a 360-degree view with its built-in radar
- Has customizable safe zones and frequency blocking
- Makes its public debut at AUSA 2025
The US Army bought two Leonidas systems in mid-2025 for £40 million, which they call the Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) system.
India’s Laser-DEW Development
In April 2025, India conducted a successful test of its 30-kilowatt Laser-DEW Mark-II(A) system, hitting targets 3.5 kilometres away. Now the Defence Research and Development Organisation is working on even more powerful variants as part of a bigger plan for directed energy systems.
India recently added seven homegrown systems to detect and stop drones along its northern border with China. These Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems give India the flexibility to either jam or blast drones with lasers.
Net-Firing Drone Interceptors: Combat-Proven Innovation
While directed energy is a high-tech solution, net-firing drone interceptors have really come into their own.
Ukraine’s Net-Launcher Success: 100 Drones in Five Weeks
Ukrainian forces came up with small drones armed with net launchers. These devices took down 100 Russian drones in just five weeks. This all happened during operations in eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk region. The info comes from soldiers of the Pomsta brigade who were interviewed in August 2025.
The Ukrainian system specifications:
- 9mm blank cartridge propellant
- A spring-loaded hammer that a servo motor operates
- 3-metre square net with metal corners
- Effective range is 10 metres
- Total system weight: 373 grams
- No extra wiring is needed; it can also be triggered by a drone’s LED light
“A net is the most effective way to take down a drone,” said one operator with call sign Armani. “Our crew downed 100 drones in five weeks.”
DroneHunter F700: 85% Success Rate, 5,000 Captures
The American-developed DroneHunter F700 is the most advanced net-interception platform around, with almost 5,000 drones caught so far worldwide.
DroneHunter F700 capabilities:
- Runs fully on its own with radar guidance
- Comes in three versions: small tether, medium tether, and a parachute system
- Works against small, medium, and large drones
- Can take down multiple drones in one go
- Takes under three minutes to get ready again after a capture
- Has successfully taken down Russian Orlan-10 and Iranian Shahed-136 drones
The system’s modular design lets it adapt quickly. The latest DrogueNet attachment fires a big net attached to a parachute.
“Only 15% of target drones evade the first shot… and a second shot is usually ready to follow,” according to manufacturer Fortem Technologies.
Emerging DIY Net Systems
The cost and simplicity of net-launcher technology have really kicked off DIY development. Ukrainian teams, backed by the Brave1 national defence accelerator, have built systems using 3D-printed bits that can be fitted onto standard quadcopters for under £1,500.
What UAV Defence Recommends
At UAV Defence, we get why counter-drone innovation is so urgent. Our lineup includes advanced detection systems like the UD H2DL Handheld Drone Locator and the UD RD 07 A/B UAV Defence Radar. These systems are the crucial first step in any effective counter-drone strategy.
Here’s our perspective on emerging technologies:
- Deploy proven detection and jamming systems now. They protect against 80-90% of drone threats at a low cost.
- Track laser developments, but they have limitations. Plan for military and critical infrastructure deployment in 2026-2027.
- High-power microwaves have potential, but need testing. Wait 2-3 years before investing outside the military.
- Net interceptors are useful for capture and analysis. They work because of, not instead of, other systems.
- A strong defence is a layered one. You need detection, classification, and multiple ways to defeat threats.
Our team works with security pros and government agencies to create comprehensive plans. These plans balance what the tech can do and what the rules allow.
Stay Ahead of Counter-Drone Innovation
These technologies are just the start. Development is already underway on things like quantum radars and next-generation directed energy weapons.
Stay up to speed with UAV Defence updates and get quarterly briefs on the latest counter-drone tech and real-world deployment examples. Our team tracks over 200 manufacturers and defence programmes worldwide.
Get your hands on our in-depth press kit, featuring technical specs and threat assessment tools for dealing with the changing drone landscape in 2025.
The aerial battlefield is changing fast. New technology like laser systems, microwaves, and net-firing interceptors is moving to real-world uses. Organisations that get a handle on these technologies now will be in the best shape to protect their airspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
How effective are laser anti drone systems in poor weather conditions?
Laser effectiveness takes a big hit in bad weather. Systems such as Iron Beam and Apollo work best when the conditions are clear. But if the weather is bad, their range gets cut back to 1-2 km. On the other hand, high-power microwave systems can handle severe weather better, making them a better choice.
What is the difference between high-power microwave and laser counter-drone systems?
Lasers channel intense light energy to take down individual drones with accuracy, but they need a clear shot. High-power microwaves blast electromagnetic waves over bigger areas, knocking out multiple drones at once. When it comes to precision targeting, lasers are the way to go, but for taking down a swarm, microwaves are more effective.
Are net-firing drone interceptors fast enough to catch modern FPV drones?
Net-launching systems like the DroneHunter F700 do a decent job but they struggle to catch the faster ones. When it comes to high-speed FPV drones that blitz by at over 100 mph, these systems often fall short. Ukrainian operators have found some success with net interceptors, especially against drones that hover. However, it’s a different story with agile drones like those used for racing . They work best as part of a multi-layered defence strategy against slower-moving threats.
When will laser counter-drone systems be available for commercial airport use?
The military is already using initial laser systems, but getting them in airports is taking a bit longer. Regulatory approval can take 3 to 5 years. Aviation authorities need to figure out safety rules for things like laser beams going off target and working with air traffic control. Commercial use will likely be limited to airports with more relaxed regulations starting around 2027-2028.
How much do emerging counter-drone systems cost compared to traditional air defence?
Traditional missile interceptors can cost anywhere from £40,000 to £3 million per shot. In comparison, laser systems are much cheaper at £0.10-£10 per use, and high-power microwaves cost £5-£50, just for the energy. Net interceptors are £1,000-£3,000 per capture. The big cost difference makes directed energy a viable option when dealing with lots of drone attacks.