The Epirus Leonidas weapon ‘neutralized 61-of-61 drones’ during a recent live fire trial in Indiana.
  • Alphane Moon@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
    32·
    3 天前

    We could really use a few hundred of these systems here in Ukraine (if they worked as advertised, but it seems they do work).

    They are mobile too which is great.

  • Onno (VK6FLAB)@lemmy.radioEnglish
    231·
    3 天前

    What’s unclear from the article is what exactly is being disrupted, since microwave radiation (from your microwave oven) is on the same frequency band as 2.4 GHz WiFi, which provides one potential failure mode for a remotely operated drone. Specifically the disruption of communication between the drone(s) and the controller.

    However, if the drone is autonomous and not using WiFi at all, the same 2.4 GHz frequency is unlikely to cause damage, unless it’s inducing currents in the on-board CPU or other circuits. This is an entirely different failure mode.

    A comment in the article mentions that the drone returns to a safe area, which is what tends to happen if WiFi connectivity is lost.

    Furthermore, there’s no information about the actual “microwave frequency”, which goes well beyond 2.4 GHz, technically ranging between 300 MHz and 300 GHz.

    • cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      9·
      3 天前

      If it can put out enough RF, it will fry the electronics. It will probably be quite effective against the crude, flying IEDs that are being used in Russia and Ukraine since they have little to no shielding.

      • mojofrododojo@lemmy.worldEnglish
        81·
        3 天前

        If it can put out enough RF, it will fry the electronics.

        yeah that could be a hell of a trick but I’m not sure it’s possible… perhaps if they’re beamforming with phased array radar systems and can pump out a lot more juice…

        • betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          3 天前

          Looks like they thought of that. From the first article linked in my reply to your other comment (one with headline “US Army awards contract…”):

          …Leonidas uses a phased array that is driven by software…

          • mojofrododojo@lemmy.worldEnglish
            3·
            3 天前

            yeah that’s the idea but the level of precision is really quite tricky when your target is a pcb hovering ??? away and not standing still. basic beamforming is easy, the trick here would be damned impressive.

            like change wars impressive, and I don’t mean (only) ukraine.

            • betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.worldEnglish
              4·
              3 天前

              They’ve also got a drone-mounted version that can get right up close and blast them with angry pixie hate. Was poking around their site a little and even when you account for how much is probably marketing wank or testing under ideal cases, these look pretty good.

              • Alphane Moon@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
                2·
                3 天前

                I was going through their site and it looked almost too good to be true.

                If it works as advertised, our government should make a clone of this (our productions and operational costs are always going to be significantly less than in the US), perhaps even under license.

                • betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  2·
                  3 天前

                  Think it’s time to start putting together a letter to some politicians here in support of adding these to a future aid package. I don’t expect to convince anyone alone but maybe I can add my raindrop to a flood if others have the same idea. This is potentially life-saving tech (if it can get to where it’s needed, anyway) and exactly what I want my tax money doing.

              • mojofrododojo@lemmy.worldEnglish
                2·
                3 天前

                They’ve also got a drone-mounted version that can get right up close and blast them with angry pixie hate.

                oof.

    • mojofrododojo@lemmy.worldEnglish
      31·
      3 天前

      “Leonidas was even used to take down a drone and ensure it dropped into a “software-defined, pre-identified safe zone.” How tidy.”

      yeah this makes me think you’re right, it’s control override, not frying their boards maybe they’re getting sparky?

      if this system can take down a squad of fiber drones as easily, I’m all in.

      • betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        3 天前

        Other articles on the system suggest that it is capable of frying boards. Here’s one:

        Like similar systems, Leonidas defends against drones by firing blasts of microwave energy that disrupts or destroys the uncrewed aircraft’s electronics, sending it crashing to the ground. It can even take on cruise missiles.

        And another:

        “Whether that electromagnetic energy spoils a drone’s electronics from working correctly or spoils a boat’s motor, or use your imagination, anything with little computers in it and stuff, is susceptible to these persistent fields of energy.”