Within Microwave Risk
What Else Gets Hit by a Microwave Weapon?
Microwave weapons aim at electronics, so radios, sensors, drones and nearby infrastructure can become part of the risk picture.
On this page
- Why electronics ownership does not matter to the beam
- Friendly military systems most exposed to spillover effects
- Civil infrastructure and mixed airspace complications
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Introduction
High-power microwave (HPM) weapons are attractive for drone defence because they attack electronics rather than airframes. A single pulse can disrupt multiple drones at once, making these systems particularly useful against swarms. The problem is that microwave energy does not recognise ownership. Friendly radios, sensors, computers, communications equipment and civilian electronic systems may sit within or near the same electromagnetic environment as the intended targets. The central risk is therefore not traditional blast damage but unintended electromagnetic effects on nearby electronics. As militaries explore microwave-based counter-drone systems, protecting friendly equipment has become one of the main operational and regulatory challenges. [Office of Naval Research+2GAO]onr.navy.milOffice of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesDirected energy weapons (DEWs) are defined as electromagnetic syste…
What Else Gets Hit by a Microwave Weapon?
Microwave weapons are often described as “counter-electronics” systems because they disable electronic functions by inducing disruptive voltages and currents in circuits, cables, antennas and other conductive pathways. The physical mechanism does not inherently distinguish between a hostile drone and a friendly radio if both are exposed to sufficient energy. [DRDO Publications+2Mobility Engineering Technology]publicationsdrdo.inDRDO PublicationsThe Strategic Role of High-Power Microwave Directed Energy…by L Christie · 2026 — HPM weapons radiate short or quasi…
Unlike a missile, whose effects are largely confined to the point of impact, an HPM engagement creates an electromagnetic hazard zone. Designers attempt to focus energy toward the target area, but practical systems still generate sidelobes, reflections and broader electromagnetic effects that must be managed. This is especially relevant because the same wide-area coverage that allows one pulse to affect many drones is also what creates concern about nearby electronics. [GAO+2Mobility Engineering Technology]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — High power microwave weapons produce microwaves, which have longer wave…
The challenge becomes more pronounced in modern operations because military formations are increasingly saturated with electronics. Vehicles, command posts, air-defence systems, battlefield networks and unmanned systems all depend on sensitive components that can potentially be affected by intense electromagnetic energy. [DRDO Publications]publicationsdrdo.inDRDO PublicationsThe Strategic Role of High-Power Microwave Directed Energy…by L Christie · 2026 — HPM weapons radiate short or quasi…
Why Electronics Ownership Does Not Matter to the Beam
Microwave effects depend on exposure, coupling pathways and equipment resilience, not on who owns the equipment. A hostile drone, a friendly drone and a civilian sensor may all contain similar semiconductor components vulnerable to electromagnetic disruption. [DRDO Publications+2Mobility Engineering Technology]publicationsdrdo.inDRDO PublicationsThe Strategic Role of High-Power Microwave Directed Energy…by L Christie · 2026 — HPM weapons radiate short or quasi…
Several characteristics make friendly systems potentially vulnerable:
- Shared technologies: Commercial drones, military drones and civilian electronics often use related microprocessors, communication links and power-management systems.
- Antennas and cables: Long conductors can act as unintended receivers of microwave energy.
- Unshielded components: Electronics that lack robust electromagnetic protection may be more susceptible to disruption or damage.
- Proximity: Systems physically closer to the engagement zone generally face greater risk. [Fraunhofer Publica+2DRDO Publications]publica.fraunhofer.dePublica High power microwavesFraunhofer PublicaHigh power microwaves - measures and countermeasuresUnprotected electronic components can be damaged at distances up to…
This does not mean every nearby device will fail whenever an HPM weapon fires. Effects depend heavily on frequency, pulse characteristics, distance, shielding and equipment design. Nevertheless, the possibility of unintended coupling is fundamental to how microwave weapons work and cannot be eliminated solely through target identification. [DRDO Publications+2Mobility Engineering Technology]publicationsdrdo.inDRDO PublicationsThe Strategic Role of High-Power Microwave Directed Energy…by L Christie · 2026 — HPM weapons radiate short or quasi…
Friendly Military Systems Most Exposed to Spillover Effects
The military systems most likely to experience concerns are often the same systems that make modern operations possible.
Radios and Tactical Networks
Military forces rely on dense communication networks linking units, vehicles, aircraft and command centres. Because communications equipment intentionally uses antennas and radio-frequency circuitry, planners must ensure that friendly systems are not unnecessarily exposed during microwave engagements. Electromagnetic compatibility and deconfliction become operational requirements rather than technical afterthoughts. [DRDO Publications]publicationsdrdo.inDRDO PublicationsThe Strategic Role of High-Power Microwave Directed Energy…by L Christie · 2026 — HPM weapons radiate short or quasi…
Friendly Drones and Autonomous Systems
Modern battlefields increasingly feature large numbers of friendly unmanned aircraft operating alongside manned systems. A microwave engagement intended for hostile drones could create complications if friendly drones occupy nearby airspace or transit through the defended zone. This challenge grows as militaries move toward larger numbers of autonomous and semi-autonomous platforms. [Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone…10 Sept 2025 — Leonidas neutralized 61-of-61 drones, culminating in a 49…
Sensors and Air-Defence Equipment
Radar systems, electro-optical sensors and command-and-control nodes are essential to identifying drone threats in the first place. Operators therefore face a paradox: the equipment needed to detect the threat may itself require protection from the electromagnetic environment created by the defensive response. Military developers address this through shielding, system hardening and carefully planned engagement procedures. [DRDO Publications]publicationsdrdo.inDRDO PublicationsThe Strategic Role of High-Power Microwave Directed Energy…by L Christie · 2026 — HPM weapons radiate short or quasi…
Vehicles and Command Posts
Modern military vehicles contain extensive digital electronics. Command posts often host dense concentrations of computers, networking equipment and communications infrastructure. These locations may need separation distances, shielding measures or operational restrictions when microwave systems are deployed nearby. [Fraunhofer Publica]publica.fraunhofer.dePublica High power microwavesFraunhofer PublicaHigh power microwaves - measures and countermeasuresUnprotected electronic components can be damaged at distances up to…
Civil Infrastructure and Mixed-Airspace Complications
The friendly-electronics problem becomes even more complicated when microwave counter-drone systems move beyond isolated military ranges and into environments containing civilian infrastructure.
Airports provide a clear example. Civil aviation depends on communications, navigation aids, surveillance systems and numerous safety-critical electronic networks. Regulators and industry experts already treat electromagnetic disruption as a major concern when evaluating counter-drone technologies around airports. Many civilian operators are therefore restricted largely to detection systems rather than more disruptive mitigation methods. [Reuters]reuters.comThese systems are increasingly being deployed beyond military use to protect civilian infrastructure such as airports, oil fields, ports…
Critical infrastructure creates similar concerns. Data centres, ports, energy facilities and transportation hubs increasingly seek protection from drone threats, yet these locations are also dense concentrations of electronic equipment. The closer a counter-drone system operates to sensitive infrastructure, the more important electromagnetic risk assessment becomes. [Reuters]reuters.comThese systems are increasingly being deployed beyond military use to protect civilian infrastructure such as airports, oil fields, ports…
Urban environments add further complexity. Buildings can reflect or channel radio-frequency energy in ways that are difficult to predict perfectly. Mixed airspace may contain commercial drones, emergency-service aircraft, communications networks and civilian infrastructure operating within relatively small geographic areas. As a result, acceptable military risk calculations may not translate directly into civilian settings. [Fraunhofer Publica]publica.fraunhofer.dePublica High power microwavesFraunhofer PublicaHigh power microwaves - measures and countermeasuresUnprotected electronic components can be damaged at distances up to…
Why “Low Collateral Damage” Does Not Mean “No Collateral Effects”
Advocates of microwave weapons often describe them as producing less physical collateral damage than missiles or gunfire. That claim is generally accurate when discussing explosions, fragments or structural destruction. A microwave pulse can disable electronics without creating the debris field associated with kinetic interceptors. [Everything RF]everythingrf.comEverything RFHigh Power Microwave (HPM) Technology in Modern…17 Feb 2026 — Their non-kinetic nature reduces structural damage and coll…
However, reduced physical damage should not be confused with the absence of secondary effects. The collateral-risk profile changes rather than disappears. Instead of worrying primarily about shrapnel, commanders may worry about electromagnetic interference, unexpected equipment failures or disruption to nearby systems. [Robin Radar]robinradar.comThe EMP interferes with radio links and…
This distinction is important because public discussions sometimes compare microwave weapons only against missiles or guns. In practice, the relevant question is not whether HPM systems have collateral effects, but which type of collateral effects are created and whether those risks can be managed more effectively than the alternatives. [Robin Radar]robinradar.comThe EMP interferes with radio links and…
How Operators Reduce the Risk
Developers and military planners are not ignoring the friendly-electronics challenge. Several mitigation approaches are commonly discussed.
Beam control and directionality. Modern systems attempt to focus energy toward defined engagement zones rather than broadcasting it indiscriminately. [Robin Radar]robinradar.comThe EMP interferes with radio links and…
Electromagnetic hardening. Critical military systems can be designed with shielding, filtering and protective measures intended to improve survivability in harsh electromagnetic environments. [Mobility Engineering Technology]mobilityengineeringtech.comUnlike otherMobility Engineering TechnologyHardening Unmanned Aerial Systems Against High-Power…1 May 2022 — High power microwave weapons use inte…
Airspace and spectrum deconfliction. Operators can establish procedures that separate friendly drones, communications systems and other sensitive assets from the engagement area before firing. [Inzpire]inzpire.comhigh power microwaves more than just a hot lunchHigh power microwaves – more than just a hot lunch!3 Mar 2025 — High-power microwaves are an emerging class of directed energy wea…
Restricted deployment environments. Microwave weapons may be easier to employ around forward military positions than in densely populated civilian settings where electronic dependencies are more complex and regulatory constraints are stronger. [Reuters]reuters.comThese systems are increasingly being deployed beyond military use to protect civilian infrastructure such as airports, oil fields, ports…
The Core Trade-Off
The defining advantage of microwave drone defence is the ability to engage many electronic targets simultaneously. Demonstrations by systems such as Leonidas have highlighted the appeal of affecting large drone groups with a single engagement. [Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone…10 Sept 2025 — Leonidas neutralized 61-of-61 drones, culminating in a 49…
Yet the same area-effect characteristic creates the central friendly-risk issue. Modern military and civilian operations depend on dense networks of electronics, and those systems can occupy the same operational space as hostile drones. As microwave counter-swarm weapons mature, their success will depend not only on how effectively they disable hostile electronics, but also on how reliably they avoid degrading the friendly electronic ecosystem that surrounds the fight. [Epirus+2Fraunhofer Publica]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone…10 Sept 2025 — Leonidas neutralized 61-of-61 drones, culminating in a 49…
Amazon book picks
Further Reading
Books and field guides related to What Else Gets Hit by a Microwave Weapon?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
Electronic Warfare in the Information Age
First published 1999. Subjects: Electronics in military engineering, Information warfare.
Introduction to electromagnetic compatibility
First published 1992. Subjects: Electronic circuits, Digital electronics, Noise, Shielding (Electricity), Electromagnetic compatibility.
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Endnotes
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Source: gao.gov
Title: gao 23 106717
Link: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106717Source snippet
Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — High power microwave weapons produce [microwaves]({{ 'microwaves/' | relative_url }}), which have longer wave...
Published: May 2023
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Source: publica.fraunhofer.de
Title: Publica High power microwaves
Link: https://publica.fraunhofer.de/entities/publication/bfa9f694-2787-47e2-90cc-73415fe11d3cSource snippet
Fraunhofer PublicaHigh power microwaves - measures and countermeasuresUnprotected electronic components can be damaged at distances up to...
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Source: inzpire.com
Title: high power microwaves more than just a hot lunch
Link: https://www.inzpire.com/news/high-power-microwaves-more-than-just-a-hot-lunchSource snippet
High power microwaves – more than just a hot lunch!3 Mar 2025 — High-power microwaves are an emerging class of directed energy wea...
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Source: reuters.com
Link: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/drone-strikes-beyond-battlefield-pump-up-market-technology-repel-them-2026-06-18/Source snippet
These systems are increasingly being deployed beyond military use to protect civilian infrastructure such as airports, oil fields, ports...
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Source: everythingrf.com
Link: https://www.everythingrf.com/community/high-power-microwave-hpm-technology-in-modern-defense-applications-capabilities-challengesSource snippet
Everything RFHigh Power Microwave (HPM) Technology in Modern...17 Feb 2026 — Their non-kinetic nature reduces structural damage and coll...
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Source: gao.gov
Link: https://www.gao.gov/video/directed-energy-weapons-dod-should-focus-transition-planningSource snippet
Directed Energy Weapons DOD Should Focus on Transition...DOD spends about $1 billion annually on directed energy--concentrated electroma...
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Source: onr.navy.mil
Link: https://www.onr.navy.mil/organization/departments/code-35/division-353/directed-energy-weapons-high-power-microwavesSource snippet
Office of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesDirected energy weapons (DEWs) are defined as electromagnetic syste...
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Source: robinradar.com
Link: https://www.robinradar.com/resources/10-counter-drone-technologies-to-detect-and-stop-drones-todaySource snippet
The EMP interferes with radio links and...
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Source: publicationsdrdo.in
Link: https://publicationsdrdo.in/index.php/dsj/article/download/21114/8787/92344Source snippet
DRDO PublicationsThe Strategic Role of High-Power Microwave Directed Energy...by L Christie · 2026 — HPM weapons radiate short or quasi...
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Source: mobilityengineeringtech.com
Title: Unlike other
Link: https://www.mobilityengineeringtech.com/component/content/article/45802-afit-0006Source snippet
Mobility [Engineering]({{ 'engineering/' | relative_url }}) TechnologyHardening Unmanned Aerial Systems Against High-Power...1 May 2022 — High power microwave weapons use inte...
Published: May 2022
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/press-releases/epirus-leonidas-high-power-microwave-defeats-49-drone-swarm-100-of-drones-flown-at-live-fire-demonstrationSource snippet
EpirusEpirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone...10 Sept 2025 — Leonidas neutralized 61-of-61 drones, culminating in a 49...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/electronic-warfareSource snippet
Epirus Leonidas High-Power Microwave: Directed Energy...Leonidas is a solid-state, high-power HPM system, utilizing Gallium Nitride (GaN...
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Source: onr.navy.mil
Link: https://www.onr.navy.mil/organization/departments/code-35/division-353/directed-energy-weapons-cdew-and-high-energy-lasersSource snippet
Directed Energy Weapons and High Energy LasersDirected energy weapons (DEWs) are defined as electromagnetic systems capable of converting...
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Source: scoop.market.us
Title: directed energy weapons statistics
Link: https://scoop.market.us/directed-energy-weapons-statistics/Source snippet
Energy Weapons Statistics and Facts (2026)DEWs are advanced military systems that use focused energy, such as lasers, microwaves, or part...
Additional References
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Source: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7349857/Source snippet
Airports from UAS: A Survey on Cyber-Attacks and...by G Lykou · 2020 · Cited by 362 — In this paper, we present a survey of drone incide...
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Source: asianmilitaryreview.com
Link: https://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/2025/03/atlas-high-power-microwave-device-advancing-rd-for-cost-effective-counter-drone-systems-nsbt/Source snippet
ATLA's High-Power Microwave Device: Advancing R&D for...10 Mar 2025 — JMOD views the HPM system, which uses high-powered microwaves to d...
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Source: electronicsforu.com
Title: directed energy weapons high power microwaves
Link: https://www.electronicsforu.com/market-verticals/directed-energy-weapons-high-power-microwavesSource snippet
Electronics For YouDirected Energy Weapons: High Power Microwaves4 Oct 2016 — HPM weapons generate an intense blast of microwave energy s...
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Source: tomshardware.com
Title: Tom’s Hardware High-power microwave system downs 49 drones in [one shot]({{ ‘one-shot/’ | relative_url }})
Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/high-power-microwave-system-downs-49-drones-in-one-shot-weaponized-electromagnetic-interference-erases-drone-swarms-en-masseSource snippet
electronics warfare company, successfully demonstrated a major advancement in counter-drone technology with its Leonidas high-power micro...
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Source: defencefinancemonitor.com
Title: non kinetic counter uas with high
Link: https://www.defencefinancemonitor.com/p/non-kinetic-counter-uas-with-highSource snippet
Non-Kinetic Counter-UAS with High Power Microwave8 Dec 2025 — High-power microwaves offer a cost-effective, rapid, and scalable defense...
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Source: droneshield.com
Link: https://www.droneshield.com/blog/a-counter-to-drone-swarms-high-power-microwave-weaponsSource snippet
A Counter to Drone Swarms: High-Power Microwave...HPM weapons work by emitting directed bursts of electromagnetic energy, disabling the...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/FlyingMagazine/posts/locations-will-host-demonstrations-of-directed-energy-technology-designed-to-cou/1456433179846390/Source snippet
counter UAV threats...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/unboxfactory/posts/the-us-military-has-successfully-tested-a-next-[generationSource snippet
rowave (HPM) weapon capable of disabling dozens of drones at once...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/scmp/posts/these-weapons-use-electromagnetic-energy-rather-than-explosives-to-disrupt-or-da/1347976814045034/Source snippet
stems. They can also be used to cause thermal injury to...
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Source: fortunebusinessinsights.com
Title: high power microwave counter drone market 117042
Link: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/high-power-microwave-counter-drone-market-117042Source snippet
High Power Microwave Counter Drone Market Size, Share...9 Jun 2026 — HPM systems use directed energy to disable or destroy drone electro...
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