China’s new high-power microwave system to counter drones has a longer range than its US military equivalent, according to its developer.
The truck-mounted Hurricane 3000 was showcased during China’s huge military parade in September.
This week its developer – state-owned defence contractor Norinco – disclosed some details of the weapon system for the first time.
“Its effective interception range exceeds 3km [1.86 miles] against light and small [unmanned aerial vehicles] and drone swarms, placing it at the forefront of similar systems both domestically and internationally,” Yu Jianjun, an expert with Norinco, said in an interview with Shanghai-based news site Guancha.
That takes it from point defence – protecting assets with a short-range, targeted system – to broader area denial, which involves a bigger range and an integrated approach, Yu said, according to the report published on Sunday.
He said it did this by operating on its own or networking with laser weapons and traditional artillery to form an “iron triangle” against drones.
“This enables it to carry out diverse air defence missions, including point defence, border and coastal security, and urban public safety operations,” Yu was quoted as saying.
The US Army’s equivalent high-power microwave weapon system – known as Leonidas and developed by Epirus – has a range of up to 2km.
The Hurricane 3000 was first revealed at the Zhuhai air show in 2024, along with the smaller Hurricane 2000 system.
Also a high-power microwave weapon system, the Hurricane 2000 has a range of 2km and can detect, track, intercept and neutralise light, small drones.
The Hurricane 3000 is significantly larger and more powerful. Yu said key tactical and technical indicators had been enhanced, including detection, tracking, combat endurance and automation.
He said the system used radar to detect and track moving targets, then electro-optical sensors took over for precise visual acquisition and tracking. Once the system had locked on, it radiated high-power microwaves through its antenna panel to instantly neutralise the target.
High-power microwave weapons use “hard kill” counter-drone technology, meaning they emit wide-area beams that fry the drone electronics at the speed of light.
That compares to “soft kill” technology designed to jam, detect or restrict drones.
Unlike traditional missiles and guns, high-power microwave weapons effectively have an unlimited “magazine” at an extremely low cost per shot and there is minimal collateral damage.
And compared to directed-energy laser weapons that engage targets point-by-point, high-power microwave systems cover a wide area, enabling “sweep-and-kill” interception that is particularly effective against saturation attacks by drone swarms.
Yu said Norinco aimed to expand the role of its high-power microwave systems to do things like cutting off enemy information links, countering airborne electronic reconnaissance, neutralising precision-guided munitions, and serving as non-lethal active denial systems against humans.
The Hurricane 3000 was part of a layered air defence system against drones – including missiles and lasers – that was showcased in the September military parade in Beijing.
The country’s other high-power microwave weapon systems include the FK-4000, developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
In America, the Leonidas system was used to neutralise a swarm of 49 quadcopter drones “within seconds” during a test in September.
A prototype of the system was also used in a live-fire test in the Philippines during the Balikatan joint exercise in April – the first time the US had deployed such a weapon to the region to counter Chinese drones.
Leonidas is also the basis for prototype systems developed for the US Navy and Marine Corps. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
