Baghdad: Turkey announced the successful testing of a new system to counter drones using electromagnetic energy, without missiles or projectiles, to enhance its Iron Dome air defense system.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Ahmet Akyol, CEO of the Turkish company Aselsan, which implemented the project, stated that the new electromagnetic system developed by the company within the Iron Dome framework disables drones using high-powered waves without the use of missiles or projectiles, and at a low cost.
Akyol stated: “The new system, called Ejderha, is one of the most advanced and strategically important components of the Turkish Iron Dome system.” This system differs from traditional munitions-based defense solutions, such as missiles and rockets, as it falls under the category of directed-energy weapons.
He added: ‘The Ejderha system has reached the stage of limited serial production and is expected to be deployed this year. It forms the electromagnetic shield for the Iron Dome system.’ He noted that changing attack patterns prompted the company to adopt a new approach that physically disables all media and drones that enter the system’s range.
He explained that the new system neutralizes targets by emitting high-powered electromagnetic waves, which damage and disable electronic circuits without causing a physical explosion. Since these waves travel at the speed of light, evading the system’s effects is impossible, while the operating cost per use remains low compared to conventional missile systems. The system’s reliance on a power source also allows for continuous operation without ammunition depletion.
He pointed out that testing demonstrated the system’s effectiveness against drones in four different scenarios at ranges of several hundred meters. In the first scenario, Ejderha proved its ability to simultaneously engage three tethered FPV drone targets, neutralizing the threat within seconds of activation.
In the second scenario, Ejderha disabled a wired FPV and a wireless drone positioned at different angles. The demonstration also proved the system’s ability to affect platforms using Mugen engines, widely used in drones, as well as Talon wings for fixed-wing drones and aircraft equipped with servo motors that drive propellers and aerodynamic surfaces.
Ejderha successfully performed its tasks in all scenarios. During performance tests, participants were shown the system’s ease of use and rapid response. Real-time evaluations following the demonstrations confirmed that the test results met expectations, with a high level of satisfaction with the system’s performance.
He explained that new-generation drones, characterized by their low acoustic and visual signatures and increasing reliance on artificial intelligence technologies, have become stealthy threats to battlefields, cities, and critical infrastructure. As the effectiveness of traditional systems in dealing with these threats declines, the need for next-generation solutions has become increasingly apparent.
In this context, high-powered electromagnetic systems, as part of preventive electronic warfare systems, are among the most prominent technologies used to counter drone threats.
Based on these requirements, ASELSAN developed the EJDERHA/AD 200 system, a mobile platform-mounted solution that utilizes vacuum electronics technology to produce high-powered electromagnetic waves, enabling the disabling of the electronic components and systems of very small and micro drones.
EJDERHA, equipped with directed-energy technology, can neutralize the navigation, communication, command, and control systems of various types of drones classified as threats in the tactical field, from a safe distance, without the need for conventional interception methods.