The US Navy plans to install a high-power microwave anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense system on its ships in 2026. At the same time, the US Army and the US Air Force are working on their own programs to develop high-power microwave weapons. The US Navy will test the Meteor air and missile defense system, which will be tested against UAVs as well as anti-ship missiles. The news comes from the draft of the US defense budget for the year 2025.
Unlike laser weapons, which “burn” a target using a high-powered laser beam, the microwave system can produce a range of effects, including disabling the target’s electronic systems. Microwave systems have the advantage over laser systems of dealing with multiple targets, such as swarms of UAVs. According to the draft US defense budget for 2025, Meteor’s purpose is to make US ships more effective in combating operational threats.
