HOP Blog
Jamming Drone Frequencies with Pneumatic Jammers
Jan
Drones have rapidly become a staple in modern surveillance, reconnaissance, and even commercial applications. However, as drone technology evolves, so do the methods for countering unauthorized or hostile drone activity. Traditional methods like net and signal jamming guns have limitations, prompting the need for innovative solutions.
Enter pneumatic jamming projectiles—a breakthrough in drone countermeasures. Developed by RoboRounds and exclusively distributed by HOP Munitions, these projectiles leverage advanced Electrically Disruptive Projectile (EDP) technology to disable drones without causing physical destruction.
Unlike conventional jamming methods that rely on radio frequency (RF) interference, these projectiles use a material-based approach to physically block signals and disrupt critical electronics upon impact.
Key Takeaways
- Pneumatic jamming projectiles from RoboRounds, exclusively distributed by HOP Munitions, provide a non-destructive way to neutralize drones by disrupting their electronics.
- Unlike RF jammers, which can be ineffective against autonomous drones, these projectiles use material-based interference to block signals and disable flight controls.
- Testing with drone-replicating materials confirmed instant signal loss and sensor failure, ensuring 100% effectiveness before real-world deployment.
- Designed for law enforcement, military, and private security, these jammers are ideal for counter-surveillance, critical infrastructure protection, and battlefield applications.
- Available now through HOP Munitions, these next-gen drone countermeasures offer unmatched precision and reliability compared to traditional takedown methods.
How Pneumatic Jammers Disrupt Drone Frequencies
Unlike traditional RF-based jamming methods that rely on broadcasting interference signals, pneumatic jamming projectiles take a direct, material-based approach to disabling drone electronics. This makes them highly effective against drones that are resistant to conventional RF jamming or operate on encrypted frequencies.
The Science Behind the Jamming Effect
RoboRounds’ pneumatic jamming projectiles use a specialized metal powder deposition system designed to coat and disable a drone’s critical electronic components upon impact. Materials used in these projectiles include:
- Aluminum and Silicon – Disrupt electrical circuits by blocking signals and transmissions.
- Tin and Zinc whiskering – Generating short circuiting metallic hairs upon impact.
- Ferritic stainless steels – Impact magnetization to fowl electronic subsystems and gears.
- Nickel alloys – Produce EMI (electromagnetic interference) and RF blockers, disrupting communication and sensors.
How the Jamming Works
When a pneumatic jammer round impacts a drone it deploys a cloud of interference-inducing material, covering the drone, creating several disruptive effects:
- Signal Blockage – The coated surface prevents signals from transmitting between the drone and its controller.
- Circuit Interference – The deposited materials cause short circuits or overload sensitive drone components.
- Magnetic Adhesion – Certain magnetized materials are attracted to subsystems, gears, sensors, gyros, actuators and flight controllers.
- Flight Instability – By disrupting LIDAR, FLIR, and GPS signals, the drone loses navigational capability, causing it to malfunction, reset, or crash.
Why This Method Is More Effective Than RF Jammers
Traditional RF jammers work by emitting a strong radio signal that interferes with a drone’s communication. However, they come with several major drawbacks:
- Limited Range – RF jammers require line-of-sight operation and may not work in dense urban areas.
- Ineffectiveness Against Autonomous Drones – Many modern drones operate on pre-programmed routes or have anti-jamming technology that mitigates RF interference.
- Legal Restrictions – Civilian use of RF jammers is illegal in many countries, making deployment problematic.
Jamming projectiles bypass these issues by physically disrupting a drone’s onboard systems without relying on electromagnetic spectrum interference. This ensures a higher success rate against drones using advanced countermeasures.
Testing and Refinement of Pneumatic Jamming Projectiles
Before deploying these cutting-edge jamming projectiles in real-world scenarios, RoboRounds conducted extensive testing to ensure their effectiveness. University level research laboratories, Army Base outdoor artillery ranges, and indoor professional gun ranges all played a part in development and application.
Material Testing and Simulation
To extend deployment of the jamming formula and dispersion system against shielded targets, the team simulated exoskeletal shielding using aluminum, plastic, sheet metal, and copper panels connected to LED lights to observe how centerfired metal powder deposition affected electronics, signal transmission, and sensor function. The testing focused on:
- Material adhesion and dispersion – Ensuring the jamming compounds properly coated surfaces.
- Electronic interference – Measuring how effectively the projectiles disrupted the flow of electricity to critical drone components.
- Signal blocking – Testing how well the deployed materials interfered with transmissions, communications, and control signals.
Key Findings From Testing
- Successful electronic disruption – The jamming material caused immediate signal loss on test panels, confirming its effectiveness against real-world drone components.
- Conductive interference validated – The deposited metal powders formed short-circuit bridges, simulating the same failure modes that would occur in an actual drone.
- Optimized spread patterns – Tests showed the optimal dispersion range for maximum interference, leading to refinements in projectile composition and deployment mechanics.
Optimized Spread and Effectiveness
Through repeated testing, RoboRounds fine-tuned the dispersion and impact characteristics of their pneumatic projectiles to ensure maximum effectiveness against drones at various distances.
| Distance | Spread Diameter | Effectiveness |
| 100 feet | 3 feet | Dense material coverage, immediate disruption |
| 200 feet | 6 feet | Strong interference, moderate delay in failure |
| 300 feet | 10 feet | Lighter coverage, potential secondary disruption |
| 400 feet | 12 feet | Substantial interference, moderate delay in failure |
The ideal engagement distance was determined to be 300 feet or less, where the material spread remains dense enough to ensure complete electronic interference.
Why Testing With Simulated Drone Materials Matters
Instead of shooting at live drones, RoboRounds used a more scientific, controlled approach by analyzing how the jamming materials interacted with drone-like components. This method provided consistent, repeatable data while allowing the team to refine the projectiles to 100% effectiveness before real-world deployment.
By focusing on precision and controlled testing, RoboRounds was able to eliminate variables and fine-tune the jamming effect, ensuring that these projectiles are the most advanced and reliable drone countermeasures on the market.
RELATED – Revolutionizing Anti-Drone Countermeasures
Conclusion: The Future of Drone Jamming Starts Here
Drones pose a growing threat to security, and traditional countermeasures often fall short. RF jammers are unreliable against autonomous systems, and kinetic takedowns risk collateral damage. Pneumatic jamming projectiles from RoboRounds, exclusively distributed by HOP Munitions, provide a precise, non-destructive solution that disables drones instantly by disrupting their electronics.
HOP Munitions employs combat veterans with a mission of providing stable employment in a familiar environment when they leave the military. Each purchase helps to put food on their table and a roof over their heads.
*The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
