US Air Force tests first THOR microwave gun to destroy groups of drones with a single shot

Many countries are searching for ways to defend themselves against drones. The US is one of them. The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory conducted the first test of an experimental weapon.

Here's What We Know

The cannon is called the Tactical High-power Operational Responder, (THOR). It is capable of engaging and disrupting drones that can operate alone, in small groups or in large swarms.

THOR is positioned as a point-to-point air defence system. The system includes a powerful microwave cannon that can shoot down drones at short ranges.

A press release from the US Air Force Research Laboratory said the test took place on April 5, 2023. US experts tested the air defence tool at Kirtland base in New Mexico.

The purpose of the April tests was to verify that real-world performance against computer models. US Air Force Research Laboratory officials would not specify how many drones were used or how many of them the system was able to hit. The press release says only that THOR successfully incapacitates several drones at once by overheating their electronics.

Although the April test was the first large-scale test of the microwave gun, the US Air Force Research Laboratory has previously conducted two demonstrations. In 2019, THOR successfully hit one drone. A year later, the cannon's operation was demonstrated overseas, but no details were available.

Source: Air Force Research Laboratory