The Russia-Ukraine war has highlighted the critical role of drones in modern warfare, driving global military focus on counter-drone systems. At the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) unveiled the “Hurricane 3000,” a high-power microwave weapon, for the first time. Regarded as one of the most cutting-edge “black technology” weapons, it boasts the capability to instantly destroy drone swarms within a 3-kilometer range.
According to a report by China Youth Daily, the “Hurricane 3000” operates similarly to a household microwave oven by emitting high-power microwave beams to carry out electromagnetic attacks on targets. The system can detect targets up to 6 kilometers away and optically track them within a 4-kilometer range. Even micro-drones beyond 3 kilometers can be precisely locked onto and neutralized. Zheng Xuyang, an expert from Norinco, explained that, unlike a microwave oven that heats food within a 30-centimeter range, the “Hurricane 3000” has an effective range of 3 kilometers—10,000 times that of a microwave oven. It can instantly burn out the electronic components and control units of drones.
The report further emphasized that the “Hurricane 3000” operates at speeds approaching that of light, enabling near-instant destruction of targets. Whether neutralizing individual drones or inflicting large-scale damage on drone swarms, the system is highly versatile. In particular, when countering saturation attacks, its high-power microwave beam functions like a “hemispherical mosquito net” with a 3-kilometer radius, effectively preventing drone incursions. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has revealed to the world the growing importance of drones in modern warfare.
Additionally, this weapon is not constrained by traditional ammunition limits and operates solely on electricity, providing the advantage of unlimited munitions for sustained combat. All operational tools are integrated into a single vehicle system, making it highly suitable for field air defense and urban combat scenarios. Since it does not consume conventional ammunition and relies only on fuel for power, its operational cost is extremely low, making it an efficient and cost-effective modern air defense weapon.
