The US Army has awarded ThinKom Solutions a contract worth up to $49 million to develop and test a mobile high-power microwave system to counter small drones.
Covering up to four Alecto prototypes, the agreement initially funds the first system and field trials scheduled for 2027.
ThinKom will integrate the microwave effector with army-designated sensors, fire-control equipment, and a mobile platform.
Government teams will then conduct system integration, testing, and evaluation.
The project is being managed by the US Army’s Program Manager for Advanced Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Effects, part of Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires.
Results from the trials will help the service assess whether mobile directed-energy weapons can provide a practical, non-kinetic response to emerging threats from unmanned aircraft.
Countering Drones With Microwave Energy
Alecto is designed to disrupt or disable Group 1 and Group 2 drones.
The system combines high-power vacuum electronics with ThinKom’s Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub antenna.
According to the company, the mechanically steered antenna concentrates microwave energy on the target while limiting its spread outside the intended area.
ThinKom said the design provides rapid beam steering, supports sustained engagements, and offers a relatively low cost per use.
These characteristics could make the system useful against individual drones and larger swarms while reducing reliance on limited supplies of missiles and other interceptors.
Alecto is designed for installation on vehicles, including smaller platforms such as Infantry Squad Vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles.
Its proposed “fire-on-the-move” capability would allow troops to engage drones while the host vehicle is moving.
Operators would control the system through a tablet-based interface.
Alecto is also designed to connect with existing command-and-control networks.
