Can Electromagnetic Launchers Cut the Cost of Stopping Drone Swarms?

Auriga Space and DEVCOM Armaments Center will study electromagnetic launch technology as military planners seek more affordable ways to defeat drone swarms

As drone warfare continues to evolve, one challenge has become increasingly clear. Modern militaries need a less expensive way to stop large numbers of low-cost drones.

That challenge is driving new interest in alternatives to traditional missile interceptors. This week, Auriga Space announced a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC). The agreement will explore whether electromagnetic launch technology can provide a lower-cost, high-volume approach to countering drone swarms.

The research partnership follows Auriga’s existing work under Department of War contracts with the Air Force, Space Force, and Missile Defense Agency. While the CRADA is a research agreement rather than a procurement contract, it signals continued government interest in technologies that could improve the economics of counter-UAS operations.

The Economics of Countering Drone Swarms

Conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and elsewhere have shown how inexpensive drones can overwhelm traditional air defense systems. In many cases, defenders must use interceptors that cost far more than the aircraft they destroy.

That cost imbalance has become a growing concern for defense planners. Missile interceptors can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars per engagement. They also require significant manufacturing capacity and supply chains that can take months to replenish.

As drone swarms grow larger, those economics become increasingly difficult to sustain.

The Army’s research agreement with Auriga reflects broader efforts across the Department of War to identify counter-drone technologies that offer lower operating costs while maintaining high engagement rates. Other approaches under development include directed energy systems, electronic warfare, and lower-cost kinetic interceptors.

Auriga believes electromagnetic launch technology could add another option.

Electromagnetic Launch Instead of Chemical Propulsion

Rather than relying on chemical propellants, Auriga’s system uses electricity and magnetic levitation to accelerate projectiles.

According to the company, eliminating bore contact reduces wear while software controls allow different acceleration profiles for various missions. The approach is designed to support rapid reloads and repeated launches with fewer logistical demands than conventional systems.

The company’s development roadmap centers on Hermes, a transportable electromagnetic launch platform housed in a standard container. Auriga says the platform is designed specifically for counter-drone missions requiring repeated engagements against large numbers of targets.

The company expects to conduct Hermes’ first outdoor flight test later this summer.

Research Partnership with DEVCOM

Under the three-year CRADA, Auriga and DEVCOM AC will share technical data and expertise to evaluate electromagnetic accelerators for operational counter-drone applications. The collaboration will focus on mapping system capabilities and defining a path toward field deployment.

“Attritable drones cost adversaries far less and are far easier to deploy and replenish than present interceptors, and it’s one of the most timely and urgent challenges in modern warfare,” said Winnie Lai, CEO and Founder of Auriga Space. “Electromagnetic propulsion solves for the structural issues with economics and cadence, it’s a working technology we at Auriga are already actively testing, and partnering with DEVCOM AC on further research will bring it that much closer to a deployable capability.”

The agreement also builds on Auriga’s broader work in electromagnetic acceleration. The company has supported Department of War programs involving hypersonic testing infrastructure and precision launch applications.

DEVCOM AC, headquartered at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, serves as the Army’s primary research and development center for armaments and munitions.

The organizations emphasized that the CRADA is a research collaboration. It does not represent a contract award, procurement decision, or endorsement by the U.S. Army or the Department of War.

A Broader Search for Affordable Defense

The announcement highlights a larger shift in military planning. As low-cost drones become more capable and more numerous, defense organizations continue searching for systems that can match both the operational tempo and the economics of the threat.

Whether electromagnetic launch technology ultimately becomes part of future counter-UAS architectures remains to be seen. However, the Army’s decision to begin formal research with Auriga suggests the Department of War is actively exploring alternatives to traditional missile-based defenses as it prepares for an era of increasingly affordable drone swarms.

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