Key Takeaways
- ThinKom Solutions is developing Alecto™, a mobile system designed to counter unmanned aircraft swarms using High-Power Microwave (HPM) technology.
- The system features rapid tracking, low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C), enabling integration into smaller platforms.
- Alecto adheres to U.S. military safety standards and aims to meet evolving defense needs for countering drone threats.
Development of Alecto™ in Directed Energy Technology
ThinKom Solutions, Inc. is making strides in the High-Power Microwave Directed Energy Weapons (HPM DEW) market with its new system, Alecto™. Self-funded and designed for mobile applications, Alecto™ focuses on defeating unmanned aircraft system (UAS) swarms. The system leverages ThinKom’s patented VICTS technology combined with advanced vacuum electronics, achieving superior power generation.
Alecto™ provides “fire-on-the-move” capabilities and is adaptable to various platforms, aligning with the needs of the U.S. Department of War (DoW) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). With its design emphasizing reduced size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C), the system meets the operational demands of smaller military assets, such as infantry squad vehicles (ISV) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV).
Key to Alecto’s effectiveness is its high precision and low sidelobes, allowing for targeted capabilities without collateral damage. This is critical in countering the fast-evolving technologies of UAS. Dan Roman, the VP of EW/HPM at ThinKom, highlighted the company’s commitment to delivering essential solutions to modern warfighters, stating that the self-funding approach has significantly accelerated development cycles.
A memorandum issued in November 2025 by Emil Michael, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, underscores the necessity for innovation in directed energy technologies. Alecto™ embodies these principles, offering the advantage of extensive magazine capacity and low cost per shot, which are vital for effectively combating drone swarms.
The system’s tablet interface simplifies operations and ensures compatibility with critical command and control (C2) networks. Furthermore, Alecto™ complies with U.S. military standards for safety (HERO, HERP, HERF), protecting personnel and equipment from electromagnetic radiation.
Alecto™ represents ThinKom’s initial entry into the HPM market, though the company plans to expand its investment in this area, targeting solutions across various platforms and applications, including base defense, maritime, and Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD). With its compact and agile design, ThinKom aims to deliver cutting-edge HPM solutions that excel in both mobile and fixed-site missions, meeting the growing needs of contemporary defense operations.
The content above is a summary. For more details, see the source article.
