"Because of the size and weight of it, it's relatively easy to move and fit to different platforms. And so that's certainly been discussed a lot," Raytheon exec Alex Rose-Parfitt told Breaking Defense.
Asymmetric threats addressed by high-energy lasers include small-to-midsize Group 1, 2, and 3 drones, along with rockets, artillery, and mortars.
Why edge and endpoint security can’t be an afterthought.
Raytheon's high-energy laser weapon systems is part of the U.S. Army’s Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) program.
Raytheon Intelligence & Space is advancing counter UAS tech with high-energy lasers.
“We’re painting with broad strokes, but we're diving into what missions of the future will look like. The technology is not quite Star Wars, but we’re getting close,” said Jeremy Murray-Krezan, AFRL's directed energy deputy chief scientist, says.
"We do in fact plan to deploy THOR in CY21 for operational field assessment, but will not confirm deployment locations or theaters at this time," an Air Force spokesman says.
Balancing security and access to data are critical to providing users with trustworthy, reliable data for real-time decisions.
"I've watched it in action and its really quite impressive," says Air Force Chief Scientist Richard Joseph.
THOR puts high-powered microwaves to fry drone swarms' electronics in a rugged and deployable package.