The U.S. Has Built an Unstoppable Microwave Weapon

On March 27, 2024, a U.S. warship in the Red Sea detected four radar tracks headed directly its way from Yemen. It fit the tell-tale pattern of drone attacks that Houthi rebels had been launching for months. Navy crews have fought off many such attacks since December and responded in the usual way: interceptor missiles roared into the sky from the ship’s deck, downing the attackers one by one at a safe distance. As usual, there was no damage to the ship and thankfully no casualties. But supplies of missiles are limited (and expensive) and the Houthis keep launching drones day after day—sometimes as many as 14 in one wave. The attack highlights the asymmetric warfare threatening U.S. military dominance. While America leads the way in high-end, “exquisite” military hardware, powers like Iran and China are churning out large numbers of low-cost attack drones to overwhelm those weapons. America’s opponents know that missiles are effective, but they simply aren’t sustainable in the long run. [View in Browser]( [Popular Mechanics]( [SHOP]( [EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [The U.S. Has Built an Unstoppable Microwave Weapon]( [The U.S. Has Built an Unstoppable Microwave Weapon]( [The U.S. Has Built an Unstoppable Microwave Weapon]( On March 27, 2024, a U.S. warship in the Red Sea detected four radar tracks headed directly its way from Yemen. It fit the tell-tale pattern of drone attacks that Houthi rebels had been launching for months. Navy crews have fought off many such attacks since December and responded in the usual way: interceptor missiles roared into the sky from the ship’s deck, downing the attackers one by one at a safe distance. As usual, there was no damage to the ship and thankfully no casualties. But supplies of missiles are limited (and expensive) and the Houthis keep launching drones day after day—sometimes as many as 14 in one wave. The attack highlights the asymmetric warfare threatening U.S. military dominance. While America leads the way in high-end, “exquisite” military hardware, powers like Iran and China are churning out large numbers of low-cost attack drones to overwhelm those weapons. America’s opponents know that missiles are effective, but they simply aren’t sustainable in the long run. On March 27, 2024, a U.S. warship in the Red Sea detected four radar tracks headed directly its way from Yemen. It fit the tell-tale pattern of drone attacks that Houthi rebels had been launching for months. Navy crews have fought off many such attacks since December and responded in the usual way: interceptor missiles roared into the sky from the ship’s deck, downing the attackers one by one at a safe distance. As usual, there was no damage to the ship and thankfully no casualties. But supplies of missiles are limited (and expensive) and the Houthis keep launching drones day after day—sometimes as many as 14 in one wave. The attack highlights the asymmetric warfare threatening U.S. military dominance. While America leads the way in high-end, “exquisite” military hardware, powers like Iran and China are churning out large numbers of low-cost attack drones to overwhelm those weapons. America’s opponents know that missiles are effective, but they simply aren’t sustainable in the long run. [Read More]( [Read More]( [Lace Up These Editor-Approved Hiking Boots and Embark on Your Next Outdoor Adventure]( [Lace Up These Editor-Approved Hiking Boots and Embark on Your Next Outdoor Adventure]( Tackle whatever trails lie ahead in the best styles we’ve tried. 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