Hurricane 3000: Chinese consequence to drone threat
The fresh Chinese high-power microwave weapon system, designed to combat drones, has more coverage than its American counterpart, as claimed by its manufacturer. The Hurricane 3000 system, mounted on a truck, was presented during a large military parade in China in September. This week, its producer, the state-owned Norinco, first revealed any details about this weapon system.
Scope and capabilities of the system
"Its effective interception scope exceeds 3 km for light and tiny unmanned aircraft and drone swarms, which puts it at the forefront of akin systems both in the country and in the world," said Yu Jianjun, an expert from Norinco, in an interview with the Shanghai Guanch news portal.
According to Yu, this allows the strategy to decision from point defence – resource conservation utilizing a short-range strategy – to wider area defence, which includes a larger scope and integrated approach. This is achieved by acting alone or in cooperation with laser weapons and conventional artillery, creating an "iron triangle" against drones.
"This enables the implementation of various air defence missions, including point defence, border and coastal protection, and city safety operations," Yu said.
Comparison with the American equivalent
The equivalent of this strategy in the American Army – known as Leonidas and developed by Epirus – has a scope of up to 2 km.
Hurricane 3000 was first presented at the Zhuhai Air Fair in 2024, along with a smaller Hurricane 2000 system. The latter, besides a high-power microwave weapon system, has a scope of 2 km and can detect, track, capture and neutralize light, tiny drones.
Hurricane 3000 is much bigger and more powerful. Yu stated that key tactical-technical indicators were improved, including detection, tracking, combat endurance and automation.
How does a microwave work?
The strategy uses radar to detect and track moving targets, and then electrooptic sensors take over the task of precise visual tracking. After tracking the target, the strategy emits high-power microwaves through the antenna panel to neutralize the mark immediately.
High-power microwave weapons usage "hard kill" technology to combat drones, meaning they emit broad beams that destruct drone electronics at the velocity of light. This is the other of soft kill technology, which aims at jamming, detecting or limiting drones.
Advantages of microwave weapons
Unlike conventional missiles and guns, high-power microwave weapons have virtually unlimited "magazines" with an exceptionally low cost of 1 shot and minimal side damage. Compared to laser weapons with targeted energy, which combats targets point-by-point, high-power microwave systems cover a wide area, allowing the capture of the kind of "smite and kill", which is peculiarly effective against massive drone swarms.
The future of the Hurricane system
Yu said that Norinco intends to grow the function of his high-power microwave systems so that they can inter alia interrupt hostile information links, counteract electronic designation from the air, neutralize accurate guided ammunition and service as non-lethal systems of active deterrence of people.
Hurricane 3000 is part of a layered air defence strategy against drones – including missiles and lasers – which was presented at the September military parade in Beijing.
Other Chinese high-power microwave weapons systems include FK-4000, developed by China Aerospace discipline and Technology Corporation.
Technology improvement in the US
In America, the Leonidas strategy was utilized to neutralize the swarm of 49 dron-quadrocopters "in a substance of seconds" during the test in September. The prototype of this strategy was besides utilized in a test utilizing sharp ammunition in the Philippines during joint Balikatan exercises in April 2025 – the United States first deployed specified weapons in the region to counter the Chinese drones. Leonidas is besides the foundation of prototype systems developed for the Navy and the US Marine Corps.
Source: SCMP
Leszek B. Glass
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