Beijing. The nature of war in the world has also changed with time. Whereas earlier battles used to take place on the ground, now drones have become the biggest threat in modern warfare. Small, fast and attacking in swarms, these drones target tanks, airbases and even cities. In response to this, every country is engaged in creating such an air defense system, which can eliminate these drone swarms at low cost. Conventional missile and cannon-based systems are expensive and destroying drones on a large scale is challenging. Seeing this shortage, China has come up with a solution which has surprised the world.
Chinese state defense company Norinco has developed a high-power microwave (HMP) weapon called ‘Hurricane 3000’. This is not an ordinary missile or cannon, but a sophisticated weapon that attacks electronic systems. The microwave rays emitted from the system installed on the truck damage the controls and circuits of the enemy drone. Due to this, drones get destroyed in the air. According to Norinco, this weapon is capable of destroying small and light drones up to 3 kilometers away, and it can stop entire swarms simultaneously.
The Hurricane 3000 was first demonstrated at the Zhuhai Air Show in 2024, while it will make its public debut at China’s military parade in September 2025. This weapon is operated with state-of-the-art sensor and radar systems. Radar detects flying drones and electro-optical sensor locks them. After this, the microwave rays enter the electronic system of the drone and deactivate it. In this process neither explosion nor debris spreads, due to which there is no harm in the surrounding areas.
Experts say that the biggest advantage of Hurricane 3000 is that it does not require ammunition to operate. This weapon can attack continuously as long as power is available. Its cost is also much lower than conventional missiles. America also has a similar weapon, it is called ‘Leonidas’, but its range is only two kilometers. China claims that Hurricane 3000 is effective at a much greater distance than this. According to experts, future warfare will now revolve around wave-based technology and electronic weapons, and high-power microwave weapons will play a major role in the new form of warfare in place of live ammunition. The capabilities of the Hurricane 3000 have not only empowered China’s air defense system, but also threatened to change the direction of global military technology. In future, its use against drone attacks could prove decisive in the battlefield.
