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THOR (weapon)

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The Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR) is a high-power microwave directed energy weapon developed by the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Design

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THOR is designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by sending out a high-power, short pulse of microwaves to disable electronics through overwhelming critical components intended to carry electrical currents. This is effective at intercepting drone swarms; while a laser needs time to burn through one at a time, an HPM can fire in an arc to disable multiple at once and refire in rapid succession. Compared to hard-kill methods for engaging drones, THOR's radio bursts have a wider engagement range, are silent, and are instantaneous. Intended for base defense, the system resembles a 20 ft (6.1 m) shipping container with a satellite dish attached. It can be transported on a C-130 Hercules and assembled by two personnel in under three hours.[1][2][3][4][5]

History

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THOR first began testing in spring 2019. The system was developed quickly in 18 months for $18 million. The program represents a collaboration between AFRL, BAE Systems, Leidos, and Verus Research, an engineering firm based in Albuquerque.[6][7][8] An Air Force official said in December 2020 that THOR was being tested "in a real-world setting" in Africa,[9] but that statement was then retracted.[10]

The AFRL began solicitations for contractors to develop a follow-on prototype to THOR in July 2021 called Mjölnir, named after Thor's hammer to keep the new system's name in the family. Mjölnir will incorporate improvements in capability, reliability, and manufacturing readiness to produce a deployable system that can be made in large numbers. In February 2022, the AFRL awarded Leidos a $26 million contract to build the system.[4][11]

On 5 April 2023, THOR successfully engaged multiple targets in a simulated swarm attack in a demonstration at the Chestnut Test Site, Kirtland Air Force Base; the number of drones downed and at what range was not disclosed.[7][8][12][13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Air Force's Mjölnir? Service Testing THOR Anti-Drone System. Military.com. 25 April 2019.
  2. ^ Troops To Test AFRL’s THOR Drone Killer This Fall. Breaking Defense. 4 August 2020.
  3. ^ Air Force's THOR Microwave Weapon Instantly Ends Enemy Drone Attack in New Video. Military.com. 21 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b Killing drones with Thor’s hammer: Air Force eyes counter-UAS ‘Mjölnir’ weapon. Defense News. 28 February 2022.
  5. ^ The Air Force used microwave energy to take down a drone swarm. Popular Science. 23 May 2023.
  6. ^ The US Air Force has a new weapon called THOR that can take out swarms of drones. The Verge. 21 June 2019.
  7. ^ a b THOR microwave weapon hammers drone swarms in demo test. New Atlas. 28 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b THOR Microwave Anti-Drone System Downs Swarms In Test. The War Zone. 19 May 2023.
  9. ^ THOR: Air Force Tests Counter-Drone Microwave In Africa. Breaking Defense. 17 December 2020.
  10. ^ AF Says Lasers Are Being Field Tested, But NOT THOR Or Other Microwave Weapon. Breaking Defense. 22 December 2020.
  11. ^ AFRL Looking for Contractors to Build Anti-UAS High-Powered Microwave. Air & Space Forces Magazine. 30 July 2021.
  12. ^ AFRL conducts swarm technology demonstration. Air Force Research Laboratory. 16 May 2023.
  13. ^ THOR Hammers Drone Swarm with High-Power Microwaves. Air & Space Forces Magazine. 19 May 2023.


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  • "THOR (Tactical High-power Operational Responder) Destroys Swarms of Enemy Drones". youtu.be. March 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  • "TACTICAL HIGH POWER OPERATIONAL RESPONDER (THOR) – Air Force Research Laboratory". afresearchlab.com. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  • "Army partners with Air Force's THOR for base defense". Air Force. 2021-02-23. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
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