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US Army Tests High-Powered Microwave Weapon in Philippines to Counter Chinese Drone Swarms.
On April 28, 2025, the U.S. Army conducted the first-ever live-fire test of its High-Powered Microwave (IFPC-HPM) system in the Indo-Pacific region during the joint exercise Balikatan 2025. The trial took place at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines, marking a major milestone in the operational experimentation of directed energy weapons in a tropical maritime environment.
The IFPC-HPM represents a new generation of directed energy weapons designed to counter small, inexpensive drone swarms (Picture source: US DoD)
The demonstration was carried out by the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (1MDTF), a theater-level unit specialized in integrating long-range fires with non-kinetic effects, including electronic warfare, cyber operations, and electromagnetic disruption. The event was coordinated closely with the Philippine Air Force’s 960th Air and Missile Defense Group and the U.S. Marine Corps’ 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, which deployed its Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) as part of a combined Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) operation.
For the first time, the U.S. Army combined its IFPC-HPM system with the Fixed Site–Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial System Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS), establishing a layered, non-kinetic defense architecture against drones. FS-LIDS ensures detection, tracking, and classification of low, slow, and small aerial threats, while IFPC-HPM neutralizes or disables targets using high-powered microwave energy. Equipped with an electro-optical infrared sensor, the system also provides precise visual target identification before engagement—an essential capability in dense, cluttered environments.
According to U.S. Army Capt. Bray McCollum, battery commander with the 1st Battalion, 51st Air Defense Artillery Regiment (1-51 ADA), the exercise proved the system’s effectiveness against drone swarms in tropical conditions, validating its operational potential. The integration of both systems reflects the U.S. military’s drive to develop scalable, cost-effective defenses in response to emerging threats such as massed drone attacks aimed at overwhelming traditional air defenses.
The IFPC-HPM (Indirect Fire Protection Capability – High-Powered Microwave) system is one of three variants under the Army’s broader IFPC program, alongside interceptor-based and high-energy laser (HEL) versions. Developed by U.S. defense firm Epirus, the system is designed to provide short-range protection for fixed or semi-fixed installations against swarming attacks by small unmanned aerial systems (UAS), typically weighing under 55 pounds. It delivers a concentrated microwave beam capable of disabling the electronic components of multiple drones simultaneously. Unlike kinetic interceptors, which are expensive and limited in magazine depth, the IFPC-HPM provides a fast, cost-effective response to large-scale UAS threats. In January 2023, Epirus was awarded a $66.1 million contract to produce four prototypes, all of which were delivered in FY2024, followed by new equipment training and engineering testing.
The IFPC-HPM fits into the Army’s broader vision of a modular, layered air defense architecture designed to counter emerging aerial threats such as rockets, artillery, cruise missiles, and drones. It complements systems like FS-LIDS for threat detection and tracking, and traditional interceptors for more complex targets. Integrated into the IFPC Increment 2 framework, it is positioned to bridge the capability gap between short-range air defense (SHORAD), Patriot missile systems, and the high-altitude THAAD system. The recent deployment to the Philippines during Balikatan 2025 marked its first use in tropical and contested environments, underscoring its operational relevance amid the growing use of drone swarms and electronic warfare capabilities by peer adversaries like China.
The 1st MDTF became the first U.S. Army unit to field the system in February 2024 and has since been conducting operational trials across various environments. Its deployment to Balikatan 2025 represents the first use of the IFPC-HPM in the Indo-Pacific theater, in close coordination with a regional ally.
The exercise also featured a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE), during which members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines received training on the newly deployed technologies. This program enhances bilateral interoperability and strengthens regional partner capabilities, in line with the U.S. strategy to bolster collective defense in an evolving threat environment.
Data collected from the trial will be analyzed by the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), which oversees the development and validation of the U.S. Army’s directed energy weapons portfolio. These insights will inform future doctrine, refine system design, and support capability development aligned with evolving battlefield requirements.
The Philippines’ selection as the test site for this capability was strategic. Located at the forefront of ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where the People’s Republic of China asserts extensive maritime claims, the archipelago plays a critical role in the regional security architecture. By deploying a microwave-based drone defense system in this environment, the U.S. signals its commitment to its Filipino ally while showcasing its ability to field cutting-edge technologies in response to growing Chinese advancements in drone warfare and electronic operations.
The 1st MDTF is the vanguard of the U.S. Army’s Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) concept, tasked with integrating innovative technologies into complex operational environments. The Army plans to establish five such task forces globally, each designed to impose synchronized effects across domains, disrupt adversary systems, and generate operational dilemmas.
Balikatan—meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Tagalog—is one of the longest-standing and most comprehensive joint military exercises between the United States and the Philippines. The 2025 edition, taking place from April 21 to May 9, involves thousands of personnel, vehicles, weapons platforms, and joint capabilities. This year’s iteration places particular emphasis on integrated air and missile defense and introduces next-generation technologies like the IFPC-HPM in realistic combat scenarios reflective of future operational theaters.