Unmanned Aerial Vehicle The latest drone news
By Charles Nwoke
The United States Air Force’s Tactical High-Power Operational Responder (THOR) microwave weapon has destroyed a swarm of drones in a recent test.
The test was carried out at the Chestnut Test Site in New Mexico, and the activity mimicked a real-world swarm attack on military installations.
THOR confronted the targets and blew them out of the sky using its non-kinetic, speed-of-light microwave pulses.
According to THOR program manager Adrian Lucero, the missile proved effective in neutralising many targets even though it had never before been experimented against the types of drones used in the rehearsal.
“THOR was exceptionally effective at disabling the swarm with its wide beam, high peak powers, and fast-moving gimbal to track and disable the targets,” he explained.
As drone threats become increasingly sophisticated, many countries have invested billions in strengthening their counter-drone capacities.
The US, for instance, has been examining different technologies to safeguard against such threats.
Investments in directed energy to counter drone swarms have also increased to deliver better and more effective protection to US military personnel anywhere globally.
Apart from the THOR weapon system, the US plans to deploy the Leonidas high-power microwave weapon that neutralises drones by zapping their electronics.
Furthermore, BlueHalo received a $46-million contract deal last month for the manufacture of a 20-kilowatt anti-drone high-energy laser to be mounted on infantry squad vehicles.
“The Air Force Research Laboratory is committed to developing such advanced technologies to defend our service members on the front lines,” AFRL high-power electromagnetics division chief Ken Miller emphasized.
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