THOR
It is obvious that unmanned vehicles for various purposes are gradually becoming — and in some cases have already become — an independent type of weapon. Moreover, we are no longer talking about isolated cases, but about massive use — for example, the use of UAVs in the conflict in Ukraine.
Assessing the trend, the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has developed a tactical operational system THOR, designed to destroy groups of UAVs. THOR implements the principle of influencing drones with directed energy in the form of high-energy microwaves, with which the installation strikes UAVs in large areas in "bursts". At the same time, it does not "cut" them, like a laser, but burns out the onboard electronics. The cost of THOR is $18 million. The system is housed in a standard six-meter transport container, which fits in the cargo compartment of the C-130 Hercules, where two soldiers can install it independently within three hours. The system is easy to operate, largely due to the user-friendly interface.
Alexander Ageev
