ThinKom Unveils ‘Alecto’ High-Power Microwave Weapon to Take Down Drone Swarms
AI Analysis
ThinKom Solutions has unveiled 'Alecto,' a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon system designed to counter drone swarms. Alecto utilizes VITCS antenna technology for precise beam control and boasts high power density, long engagement durations, and a low cost per use. The system is designed for mobile deployment on various platforms, including infantry vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles.
Key Takeaways
- Alecto employs Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub (VITCS) technology for precise beam steering and reduced collateral damage.
- The system offers higher peak power density compared to gallium nitride-based active electronically scanned array systems.
- Alecto is designed for integration with existing command-and-control networks via a tablet-based interface.
- Its reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP) allows for deployment on smaller, mobile platforms with 'fire-on-the-move' capability.
- The British Army has reportedly tested a similar radiowave weapon, highlighting growing interest in HPM-based counter-UAS solutions.
Why It Matters
The proliferation of drone swarms presents a significant and evolving threat to military and civilian infrastructure. Alecto represents a potentially disruptive counter-UAS technology, offering a cost-effective and mobile solution for neutralizing drone threats, especially in contested environments. The system's emphasis on SWaP and integration suggests a move towards distributed, platform-level counter-drone capabilities.
ThinKom Unveils ‘Alecto’ High-Power Microwave Weapon to Take Down Drone Swarms
ThinKom Unveils ‘Alecto’ High-Power Microwave Weapon to Take Down Drone Swarms
Alecto is a high-powered microwave system.
A matte-green flatbed truck with the ThinKom Alecto high-power microwave system mounted in the bed. Image: ThinKom
Published on 04 May 2026
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In a battlefield increasingly shaped by drone swarms, California’s ThinKom Solutions is responding with a new high-power microwave (HPM) system designed to counter coordinated unmanned threats.
The system, known as Alecto, blends Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub (VITCS) technology with high-power vacuum electronics to generate directed microwave energy.
VITCS is a steerable mechanical antenna system that enables precise beam control with minimal spillover, helping concentrate effects on targets while reducing the risk of collateral damage.
According to the company, this architecture delivers significantly higher peak power density compared to gallium nitride-based active electronically scanned array systems.
Illustration of the VITCS technology. Image: ThinKom
It also supports long-duration engagements, fast beam steering, and low cost per use, allowing more sustained responses against drone swarms.
For operators, Alecto uses a tablet-based interface and is designed to integrate with existing command-and-control networks.
“With Alecto, ThinKom demonstrates its dedication to equipping the warfighter with critical, enabling solutions needed on the modern battlefield,” said Dan Roman, vice president of electronic warfare and high-power microwave at ThinKom Solutions.
“By investing our own capital, we have been able to greatly accelerate the development cycles, embodying the agility required by the Department of War.”
Flexible Integration
Unlike traditional systems, Alecto is designed with reduced size, weight, and power requirements to support deployment on smaller platforms such as infantry squad vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles.
Artist’s rendering of the Alecto high-power microwave system mounted on a light tactical vehicle in a desert environment. Image: ThinKom
Its vehicle-mounted configuration supports “fire-on-the-move” capability, allowing operators to engage threats while in motion.
The system is built to cover a wide operating area while maintaining a compact, low-profile footprint, making it suitable for mobile deployment.
It also reportedly meets US military safety standards, ensuring controlled operation while protecting personnel, equipment, and fuel from electromagnetic effects.
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