In the United States conducted a test of a microwave gun against a swarm of drones

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Some time ago, the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) conducted a first-of-its-kind test of a Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR). This happened in a timely manner, because the threat from drones is constantly growing, especially those that work in large groups or can unite in whole swarms, and the answers to this problem are relevant all over the world, The Drive writes.


The publication noted that the THOR container complex is a future point (object) anti-drone defense system, which is a powerful microwave system (gun) to counter single and group (even swarms) drone attacks at short distances (short range). According to a press release that appeared, AFRL held a demonstration of the mentioned Technology April 5 at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

One of the goals of testing was to find out how well the results of computer simulations agree with reality. But the number of drones involved and the number of those shot down are not given. However, the advanced microwave gun is said to be capable of simultaneously hitting multiple drones, incapacitating them by frying (heating) their electronic systems.



Notably, the THOR can be used against multiple targets simultaneously, making it a potentially invaluable weapon to defend against drone swarms where other close-range defenses, from artillery systems to lasers, can have problems.

- the material says with reference to Adrian Lucero, head of the THOR program.
  • Photos used: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
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  1. Requiem Offline Requiem
    Requiem (Anton) 20 May 2023 22: 30
    +1
    Is the "big" version of ADS (Active Denial System); the drone can also be shielded with aluminum foil, the kind you use in the kitchen. Once shielded, the drone can no longer communicate; you have to use an inertial navigation device; But by making a good specially designed design, the drone can have parts exposed to communication without being affected by microwaves
  2. Vladimir Tuzakov Offline Vladimir Tuzakov
    Vladimir Tuzakov (Vladimir Tuzakov) 20 May 2023 22: 32
    0
    The next generations of UAVs will be faster and more protected, the transition from screw to jet strike is in development. Reconnaissance UAVs seem to be minimized and cheaper, possibly remaining propeller-driven. Large losses may be taken into account, with an increase in the number of applied ones, constantly hanging in the right areas. The time for high-precision weapons and without crew facilities has come, and this is confirmed by the NWO. A large amount of work is expected with the development of UAVs and protection against them. We have definitions from history when military actions qualitatively changed the Armed Forces of the state, it seems that, although with great bloodshed, the qualitative improvement of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is taking place.
  3. Nikolaevich I Offline Nikolaevich I
    Nikolaevich I (Vladimir) 20 May 2023 22: 54
    0
    Mdaaa...! Situation ! If in a "literary" style, then ...: "Eternal ,, competition, sword and shield ... armor and projectile!" ... In the company after 3 glasses: "There is a screw for every tricky nut!" Basically , world electronics is "based" on semiconductor technology! But maybe dielectric technology! To paraphrase a well-known proverb about a German and a Russian, we can say: what is "fatal" for semiconductors is "tolerable" for dielectrics! And this is not to mention those well-known methods designed to protect "classical" electronics from electronic magnetic impulses, powerful electronic magnetic "picks"! Here you can "remember" both shielding and Zener diodes!
  4. Vldmir Smrnff Offline Vldmir Smrnff
    Vldmir Smrnff (Vldmir Smrnff) 20 May 2023 23: 04
    -1
    such a "gun" with such powerful radiation should glow on all locators like a "Christmas tree", I think a large charge is not required to disable it.
  5. Scharnhorst Offline Scharnhorst
    Scharnhorst (Scharnhorst) 21 May 2023 07: 44
    0
    Simultaneous exposure involves AFAR, and here is a mirror. How is the problem of primary detection and control center solved? An energy container of immodest dimensions is not mentioned or shown ...
  6. Pro100 Offline Pro100
    Pro100 (Vladimir Babaev) 21 May 2023 08: 23
    0
    And what if you use shotguns or buckshot cartridges against low-flying small drones. Although the range of destruction will be small.
  7. imjarek Offline imjarek
    imjarek (imjarek) 21 May 2023 21: 33
    -1
    I am surprised. The magnetron from the microwave has a power of 1 kilowatt in continuous mode. a magnetron from a Soviet radar with a rotating instrument cabin (not with a phased antenna array!) Gives tens of megawatts in an impulse. The pulses are short, with a large duty cycle, create interference in the range practically "from zero to infinity". Radiation of such power will "knock down" not only drones, but even close-flying aircraft. In people who have fallen into such a "radio beam", the lens instantly becomes cloudy and can easily "boil their brains." So, why such "dances" around the "problem of drones", I refuse to understand!