You're not the only one curious about how military anti-drone weapons work. You may have heard of Dronebuster Smart Shooter, THOR, Dronebuster, and Netdrone. Each weapon serves a different purpose. These weapons allow the operator to command the drone to come home or go down.
THOR
The THOR military-grade anti-drone weapon system uses high power microwaves to fry the drone electronics. The system can eliminate drone swarms within short ranges. A prototype prototype has been developed by the Air Force, which has invested $26 million. It is unknown when it will enter combat.
The THOR system looks like a radar hatching out of a shipping crate. It can be stored in a 20-foot shipping box and transported in a C130 transport aircraft. It can therefore be flown to remote areas where drone swarms might pose a danger to humans. It can also be installed by just two people in less than three hours and is cheaper than traditional surface-to-air weapons.
Dronebuster
U.S. Marine Corps infantrymen can now use the Dronebuster, a military anti-drone tool. Dronebuster, a hand-held jamming device forces enemy drones into descending and returning to their operator. A Marine stationed at the base can point it directly at a drone in order to disable its communications systems.
The Dronebuster handheld anti-drone weapon is the only one authorized for US military use. It is a small, portable device with a range up to 400 meters. Dronebuster is an electronic hammer that can disrupt the drone's guidance and command-and–control signals. The device's accuracy is improved by the use of a smart shooter system, which makes conventional rifles and small arms precise enough to hit a moving drone.
Smart Shooter
The Israeli army was the first to use the Smart Shooter, a military anti-drone weapon system, in 2022 during Battle of Hebron. The system uses sponge balls instead of bullets to shoot drones. The system is compact and weighs in at around 165lbs. It stands approximately 37 inches tall. The system can be fitted with a machine gun. The Israeli military tested and installed the system on machine guns and cannons during the battle for Hebron in 2022. These systems are also planned to be deployed on Israeli drones and light planes, according to reports.
The new system uses a computerized fire control system to help troops lock on to incoming drone threats and disable them with a single, accurate shot. Smart Shooter, an Israeli firm, announced that it was awarded a subcontract to the U.S. Army to supply SMASH 2000L's fire control system to soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan. This deal was made public at the annual Association of the U.S Army meeting.
Net drone
Drones are a rapidly growing threat on the battlefield. The US military has several weapons that can be used to counter drones. One weapon in this arsenal is the net drone. These tiny, lightweight devices can be launched with compressed air and weigh in at 22 pounds (10 kg). These drones come with predictive algorithms that enable the operator to lock on to a specific drone, then launch the net which envelops the drone and brings it safely to the ground.
Because of their small size, drones can be difficult for people to target and detect. This has been changed by the introduction of weaponized drones. The 2020 conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the civil war in Libya have both seen the use of these devices. To counter the growing threat of drones the Ukrainian army has ordered hand-held electronics warfare systems (EDM4S). These systems were acquired through NATO Support and Supply Agency.
LMADIS
LMADIS (military anti drone weapon) is a weapon that can be used to combat unmanned aerial vehicles. The system consists in two Polaris MRZR all terrain vehicles as well as a command vehicle. Each unit carries an RPS42 tactic air surveillance radar as well as a small EO/IR cameras, an RF detection and RF jammer from Sierra Nevada MODi. The system is capable of identifying and destroying unmanned aerial vehicles.
Marine Corps developed the LMADIS system in order to combat small commercial drones. The USMC employs a variety of counter drone weapons to protect its citizens. Ascent vision Technologies (AVT), in partnership with the USMC Ground Based Air Defense team as well as other industry partners, developed the system. The system was successfully deployed to US Marine Corps over 18 months.