Drones are becoming the basis of modern warfare. They are widely used not only for reconnaissance or point strikes, but also as collective assault weapons on long campaigns. There can be so many UAVs that a conventional air defense system cannot withstand them.

how the gun works

The THOR system uses high-energy microwave bursts over large areas to disable drone electronics. If lasers, as a rule, blow them up, this technology literally “fries” the inside of the device. As a result, the drone loses its performance, falls and crashes.

During a real-world demonstration, an engineer-controlled THOR prototype hit multiple targets at the Air Force Base’s test site. Using a targeting system, he tracked and activated the drones in nanoseconds over large areas of the sky, knocking them out with powerful microwave pulses.

The $18 million THOR is housed in a standard 20-foot shipping container that can fit a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. Two soldiers can deploy the complex for combat use within three hours.

The system is equipped with a convenient interface for firing and aiming, which requires minimal training. The developers did not disclose which power generator they use in the system and how sustainable THOR is in terms of uptime.

It is unclear when such systems will enter service in the United States.