The rapid spread of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on modern battlefields has transformed the nature of warfare, forcing militaries to rethink how they defend critical assets against low-cost, highly mobile, and increasingly autonomous threats.
Against this backdrop, China has begun revealing more information about one of its most advanced counter-drone systems to date: the Hurricane 3000, a truck-mounted high-power microwave (HPM) weapon designed to neutralise drone swarms over a wide area.
Developed by state-owned defence giant Norinco, the Hurricane 3000 is being presented as a key component of China’s evolving air-defence architecture.
When the Hurricane 3000 was revealed
The Hurricane 3000 first entered the public domain in 2024, when it was unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow alongside a smaller system known as the Hurricane 2000.
At the time, details were limited, and the focus was largely on demonstrating that China was actively developing high-power microwave weapons as part of its counter-drone portfolio.
The system drew attention again in September 2025, when it appeared during
China’s large-scale military parade in Beijing, an event typically reserved for showcasing platforms and technologies that reflect strategic priorities.
Despite its high-profile appearances, Norinco did not initially release technical specifications or operational concepts.
That changed in this week, when the company publicly disclosed details of the Hurricane 3000 for the first time.
What we know about the Hurricane 3000
At its core, the Hurricane 3000 is a high-power microwave weapon system. Unlike conventional air-defence platforms that rely on kinetic interceptors such as missiles or gunfire, the Hurricane 3000 uses electromagnetic energy to disable or destroy targets.
High-power microwave weapons emit intense microwave radiation that disrupts or permanently damages the electronic components and control systems of drones, rendering them inoperable.
According to Norinco, the Hurricane 3000 has been designed specifically with drone swarms in mind.
“Its effective interception range exceeds 3 km [1.86 miles] against light and small [unmanned aerial vehicles] and drone swarms, placing it at the forefront of similar systems both domestically and internationally,” Yu Jianjun, an expert with Norinco, said in an interview with Shanghai-based news site Guancha.
This claimed engagement distance is significant because it extends the system’s role beyond close-in, point-defence missions.
Instead of only protecting individual facilities or vehicles at short range, the Hurricane 3000 is positioned as a platform capable of denying airspace over a wider area, particularly in scenarios involving multiple incoming drones.
How the Hurricane 3000 works
Norinco has outlined a multi-layered detection and engagement sequence for the Hurricane 3000. The system uses radar to identify and track moving aerial targets at extended distances.
Once potential threats are detected, electro-optical sensors take over, allowing for visual acquisition and precise tracking of UAVs. This is intended to improve accuracy and reliability, particularly against small or low-flying drones that can be difficult to track using a single sensor type.
After a target is locked, the Hurricane 3000 emits high-power microwave energy through an antenna panel. The radiation acts almost instantaneously, damaging onboard electronics at speeds approaching that of light.
The result is the immediate loss of functionality, whether through disrupted flight control systems, fried circuitry, or complete electronic failure.
This method of engagement distinguishes high-power microwave weapons from so-called “soft kill” counter-drone technologies, which focus on jamming signals, spoofing navigation systems, or temporarily interfering with communications.
Instead, HPM systems are categorised as “hard kill” solutions because they physically incapacitate the target’s electronic components.
The Hurricane 3000 is designed to operate either independently or as part of a networked defence system. It can reportedly be linked with laser weapons and traditional artillery to form an “iron triangle” against drones.
The Hurricane 3000 is mounted on a high-mobility truck chassis, a design choice that reflects China’s emphasis on flexible and rapidly deployable systems.
This configuration allows the weapon to be moved quickly between locations, supporting operations across a range of terrains and environments.
Norinco has indicated that the system is capable of operating in diverse environmental conditions, a feature that addresses limitations seen in some conventional counter-drone technologies that are sensitive to weather or visibility.
Why Hurricane 3000 holds an advantage over traditional counter-drone weapons
One of the central arguments Norinco makes in favour of the Hurricane 3000 is its efficiency compared to traditional air-defence systems. Missiles and gun-based interceptors can be costly and are often ill-suited to dealing with large numbers of inexpensive drones.
Each missile fired represents a significant expense, while rapid-fire guns require sustained logistics support and can struggle against small, agile UAVs.
High-power microwave systems, by contrast, effectively have an unlimited “magazine”. They do not rely on physical ammunition, and the cost per engagement is comparatively low once the system is deployed.
Also, because microwave energy affects electronics rather than causing explosions, collateral damage is minimal, making such systems suitable for use in urban environments or near sensitive infrastructure.
Another key advantage lies in area coverage. Laser weapons, which are another form of directed-energy technology, typically engage targets individually and require precise aiming.
High-power microwave weapons emit energy over a wider area, enabling what defence analysts often describe as a “sweep-and-kill” approach.
This makes them particularly effective against saturation attacks, where dozens of drones may be launched simultaneously in an attempt to overwhelm defences.
How Hurricane 3000 compares with US weapons
The US Army’s high-power microwave weapon, known as Leonidas and developed by Epirus, reportedly has an effective range of up to 2km.
In testing conducted in September 2025, Leonidas was used to neutralise a swarm of 49 quadcopter drones “within seconds”.
A prototype version of Leonidas was also deployed during the Balikatan joint military exercise in the Philippines in April 2025, marking the first time the United States had used such a weapon in the region to counter Chinese drones.
The Leonidas technology has also served as the basis for prototype systems developed for the US Navy and Marine Corps.
When Hurricane 3000 will be deployed
Beyond Norinco’s systems, China has also developed other high-power microwave platforms, such as the FK-4000, produced by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Norinco has also outlined ambitions to broaden the role of high-power microwave systems beyond countering UAVs.
The company repotedly aims to expand their use to include cutting off enemy information links, countering airborne electronic reconnaissance, and neutralising precision-guided munitions.
Despite its high-profile showcases and disclosed capabilities, the Hurricane 3000 has not yet been officially deployed by the People’s Liberation Army.
Norinco has stated that the system is still undergoing testing and evaluation. Successful field trials, however, have generated significant interest, suggesting that integration into China’s air-defence network could follow once testing is complete.
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With inputs from agencies
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