{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/e421d786-ec36-4148-aa99-7a3b2928a779/6852f2e1259ce49e3e859d04?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Circuit breakers: how microwaves can knock drones out of the sky","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62e286a934d4d9fe5e874247/1750266321281-5a16fa30-6127-42d1-8c4d-dac3c10dc732.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>The evolution of drone technology in warzones, such as <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/05/05/how-new-drones-are-sneaking-past-jammers-on-ukraines-front-lines?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Ukraine</a>, is showing no signs of slowing. But as drones have become more capable, the traditional ways to bring them down—such as <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/02/05/fighting-the-war-in-ukraine-on-the-electromagnetic-spectrum?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">electronic jamming</a> or physically firing shots at them—are becoming less effective. Engineers have therefore had to get creative. Several companies are dreaming up devices that emit <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/interactive/science-and-technology/2025/06/11/microwave-blasters-can-down-even-jam-proof-drones?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">microwave radiation</a> with the aim of disabling the electronics of drones. Could they really protect people from the threats swarming in the skies above?</p><p><br></p><p>Host: Alok Jha, <em>The Economist</em>’s science and technology editor. Contributors: Thomas Withington of RUSI; Andy Lowery of Epirus; <em>The Economist</em>’s Benjamin Sutherland.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>For more on Ukraine’s drone war, listen to “<a href=\"https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2025/06/14/inside-operation-spiderweb\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Weekend Intelligence: Inside Operation Spider Web</a>”.</p><p><br></p><p><em>Transcripts of our podcasts are available via </em><a href=\"http://economist.com/podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>economist.com/podcasts</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href=\"https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href=\"https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>our video </em></a><em>explaining how to link your account.</em></p>","author_name":"The Economist"}