US Army to test mobile microwave weapon Alecto that fries drones on the move — $49M deal

ThinKom Solutions has secured a contract from the U.S. Army worth up to $49 million to develop and test a mobile high-power microwave system designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles. The project falls under the Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires and the Program Manager for Advanced Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Effects (PM ACE).

Initial funding will be allocated to building one of six prototypes the Army intends to acquire. Field tests of the Alecto system, which is designed to engage drones from a moving platform, are scheduled to begin in 2027.

Alecto leverages ThinKom's patented VICTS antenna technology to direct concentrated electromagnetic energy at drone targets. The system will integrate the microwave source with sensors, fire-control equipment, and a mobile platform to be selected by the government.

The U.S. Army aims to field a cost-effective countermeasure against drone swarms, capable of neutralizing multiple targets at speed without expending expensive missiles. Microwave weapons work by disabling the electronics of unmanned aircraft, making them particularly effective against mass attacks where traditional interceptors would be too costly or slow.

The contract represents a shift toward directed-energy solutions for battlefield air defense, as drones become an increasingly common threat in modern conflicts.