Playing Zeus: drones can induce and direct lightning with lightning protection to reduce damage to infrastructure and cities

Japanese telecommunications company NTT has successfully induced and guided lightning using drones equipped with advanced discharge protection technology for the first time ever.

This groundbreaking achievement marks a pivotal step toward building resilient cities and infrastructures capable of eliminating damage caused by lightning—one of nature’s most destructive forces. The innovation not only showcases the potential of drones as mobile lightning rods but also paves the way for safer urban environments and critical infrastructure protection.

Lightning strikes are one of the most destructive natural phenomena with one single bolt carrying a voltage potential of between 100 million and one billion volts. Lightning-related damage remains a persistent issue. In Japan alone, the estimated annual cost of lightning damage ranges from 100 to 200 billion yen ($700,000 to $1.4 million).

Lightning protection has traditionally relied on the use of lightning rods - rods with a grounded wire which safely conducts the electric charge to Earth. However, their protective range is limited, and in some cases—such as wind turbines or large outdoor venues— it is simply just too impractical to install them.

Moving beyond conventional lightning rods

NTT use drone technology to create a new approach: “drone-triggered lightning”. This involves flying drones into high-risk positions beneath thunderclouds to actively trigger lightning strikes, and then guiding the discharge safely away from vulnerable areas and to the ground.

Lightning-resistant drone technology

From December 2024 to January 2025, a lightning-triggering experiment using drones was conducted at an elevation of 900 meters in a mountainous area of Hamada City.

The drones were equipped with specially-designed Faraday cages that redirect lightning strikes without damaging their internal electronics. Acting as shields, these cages channel the energy around the drone, neutralizing the intense electromagnetic forces that could otherwise interfere with critical systems.

Tests have confirmed that these drones can endure currents of up to 150 kiloamperes—five times the average strength of a natural lightning strike—ensuring their functionality even under the harshest conditions.

At the moment of the strike, a loud cracking sound was heard, a flash was observed at the winch, and partial melting occurred in the drone’s lightning protection cage. However, the drone equipped with the protective cage continued to fly stably even after the lightning strike.

Next steps in development

NTT aims to refine the accuracy of lightning impact zone predictions and enhance the efficiency of its induction system. The company is also exploring groundbreaking techniques to capture and store lightning energy, which could pave the way for utilizing it as a renewable energy source.

Potential to harness lightning energy

This innovation not only seeks to protect critical infrastructure and human lives but also offers an unprecedented opportunity to advance the smart management of natural energy.

Harnessing lightning energy could serve as a valuable complement to other renewable sources, such as solar and wind, particularly in regions with high atmospheric electrical activity.

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