Airborne redirection unit for deflecting a radio frequency energy beam

A method of illuminating a target with RF energy, the method comprising:

• providing a steerable source of RF energy configured for generating a platform RF energy beam;
• deploying an airborne redirection unit (ARU) configured for redirecting the platform RF energy beam, the ARU comprising:
• a parachute canopy comprising a surface configured to slow a rate of descent of the ARU without arresting or reversing the descent of the ARU;
• and
• a beam director supported by the parachute canopy;
• transmitting by the steerable source of RF energy the platform RF energy beam towards the ARU, thereby illuminating the ARU;
• receiving at the ARU the platform energy beam;
• and
• redirecting by the ARU the platform RF energy beam so as to provide a redirected RF energy beam that is directed towards the target, said target being thereby illuminated by the redirected RF energy beam;
• wherein the method does not include accepting and processing of any data intentionally transmitted by the target.