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Within Kill Effect

Why One Drone May Fall and Another Recover

Drone model, shielding, wiring layout, autonomy, and radio design can change whether microwave exposure causes a crash, recovery, or repairable fault.

On this page

  • Consumer drones versus hardened systems
  • Temporary upset versus permanent damage
  • Why target details matter in public demonstrations
Preview for Why One Drone May Fall and Another Recover

Introduction

One reason THOR’s kill mechanism is difficult to verify publicly is that there may be no single, universal drone response to high-power microwave exposure. Two aircraft flying side by side can experience the same microwave pulse yet suffer very different outcomes: one may crash immediately, another may reboot and continue flying, and a third may land safely and later return to service. Public demonstrations rarely disclose the exact drone models, electronics architecture, shielding measures, or hardening techniques involved, making it difficult for outside observers to determine whether a reported “defeat” reflects a broadly effective weapon or a vulnerability specific to a particular target. [Air Force Research Laboratory]afresearchlab.comAir Force Research LaboratoryTACTICAL HIGH POWER OPERATIONAL RESPONDER…September 16, 2019 — The system uses high power microwaves to c…Published: September 16, 2019

Drone Variation illustration 1 This variation is not a minor detail. High-power microwave systems work by coupling electromagnetic energy into electronic components, wiring, antennas, and control systems. How much energy reaches sensitive electronics depends heavily on the drone’s design. As a result, differences between targets can significantly affect apparent weapon effectiveness. [mobilityengineeringtech.com+2Office of Naval Research]mobilityengineeringtech.comHardening Unmanned Aerial Systems Against High-Power…May 1, 2022 — 14 May 2022 — High power microwave weapons use intentional electrom…Published: May 1, 2022

Why One Drone May Fall and Another Recover

High-power microwave weapons do not strike all drones in the same way. Unlike a projectile that physically impacts a target, microwave effects depend on how electromagnetic energy enters and propagates through a particular electronic system.

Small variations can alter the outcome:

  • Antenna placement and radio design.
  • Internal wiring length and routing.
  • Shielding around processors and power electronics.
  • Circuit-board layout.
  • Use of commercial versus military-grade components.
  • Orientation of the aircraft relative to the incoming pulse.

Researchers studying microwave effects on unmanned aircraft have repeatedly found that electromagnetic coupling pathways strongly influence whether electronics experience a brief malfunction, a processor reset, or component damage. The same pulse can therefore produce different results across different drone designs. [ADS Absorption+2MDPI]ui.adsabs.harvard.eduADS AbsorptionHigh-Power Microwave Pulse-Induced Failure on…by Q Mao · 2023 · Cited by 28 — In this article, we investigate the impact…

This creates a verification problem. Public footage may show a drone falling from the sky after exposure, but without knowing the target’s internal design, it is difficult to determine whether most drones would react similarly or whether that particular aircraft happened to possess a highly vulnerable architecture.

1-to-Many: The Necessary Counter-Swarm Defense Starts with Epirus High Power Microwave

Channel: Epirus

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Consumer Drones Versus Hardened Systems

The largest survivability differences are likely to exist between inexpensive commercial drones and systems designed with electromagnetic resilience in mind.

Most consumer drones prioritise low weight, low cost, and compact electronics. They often contain densely packed commercial components connected by numerous conductive pathways that can unintentionally act as entry points for electromagnetic energy. Such systems are generally not designed around military electromagnetic survivability requirements. [mobilityengineeringtech.com+2The Strategist]mobilityengineeringtech.comHardening Unmanned Aerial Systems Against High-Power…May 1, 2022 — 14 May 2022 — High power microwave weapons use intentional electrom…Published: May 1, 2022

By contrast, military and specialised industrial systems may incorporate features intended to reduce vulnerability:

  • Shielded electronic enclosures.
  • Filtered power lines.
  • Hardened processors.
  • Improved grounding schemes.
  • Protected communications systems.
  • Redundant flight-control architectures.

The US Navy’s directed-energy research programme explicitly treats resilience against directed-energy threats as a technical challenge, illustrating that survivability can be engineered rather than assumed. [Office of Naval Research]navy.milOffice of Naval Research Directed Energy Weapons: High Power Microwaves The ability to focus the radiated energy reliably and repeatedlyOffice of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesThe ability to focus the radiated energy reliably and repeatedly at…

The implication for THOR demonstrations is straightforward: a successful engagement against lightly protected commercial drones does not automatically reveal how a hardened military unmanned system would perform under similar conditions.

THOR (Tactical High-power Operational Responder) Destroys Swarms of Enemy Drones

Channel: AFResearchLab

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Temporary Upset Versus Permanent Damage

Another source of uncertainty is that microwave exposure does not always produce permanent destruction.

Government and defence literature commonly distinguishes between temporary degradation, mission defeat, and physical damage. High-power microwave effects can range from brief electronic upset to irreversible semiconductor failure. [GAO+2Academia]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy lasers and other high power electroma…Published: May 2023

A drone might experience:

  • A processor reboot.
  • Loss of communications.
  • Navigation errors.
  • Sensor malfunction.
  • Flight-controller crashes.
  • Permanent damage to electronic components.

From an observer’s perspective, several of these outcomes can appear identical. A drone that suddenly descends could be suffering catastrophic hardware failure, or it could simply have entered a programmed failsafe mode after a temporary disruption. Public demonstrations seldom provide post-flight forensic analysis showing which explanation applies. [GAO]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy lasers and other high power electroma…Published: May 2023

This distinction matters because a temporary upset and permanent destruction imply very different operational consequences. A drone that can be restarted and flown again represents a fundamentally different level of effectiveness than one that requires replacement.

Drone Variation illustration 2

Autonomy Changes the Outcome

The level of onboard autonomy can also affect survival.

Many commercial drones rely heavily on communications links, satellite navigation, and continuous interaction between sensors and flight-control software. If a microwave pulse disrupts one of these systems, the aircraft may become unstable or enter a safety mode.

More autonomous platforms may be able to tolerate certain disruptions because they can continue navigating or executing pre-programmed tasks even after losing some external inputs. Modern counter-drone discussions increasingly emphasise that autonomous systems may react differently to electromagnetic attack than remotely piloted aircraft. [arXiv]arxiv.orgOpen source on arxiv.org.

Consequently, observing that one drone crashes after exposure does not necessarily reveal how another platform with different software architecture would behave.

Why Radio and Wiring Design Matter

Microwave weapons depend on delivering electromagnetic energy into vulnerable electronics. Antennas, cables, wiring harnesses, and conductive structures can all become pathways through which energy reaches sensitive components.

Studies of high-power microwave effects on unmanned aircraft consistently identify coupling through exposed wiring and electronic subsystems as a key factor in mission defeat. The amount of energy entering the aircraft depends on details that are rarely visible from the outside. [ADS Absorption+2arXiv]ui.adsabs.harvard.eduADS AbsorptionHigh-Power Microwave Pulse-Induced Failure on…by Q Mao · 2023 · Cited by 28 — In this article, we investigate the impact…

Two drones may have similar size and appearance while possessing radically different electromagnetic characteristics:

  • One may have wiring that efficiently couples incoming energy.
  • Another may have shorter cable runs and better shielding.
  • One radio system may present a favourable entry path.
  • Another may include filtering that attenuates the disturbance.

These hidden engineering differences can strongly influence survivability.

Drone Variation illustration 3

Why Target Details Matter in Public Demonstrations

This variability explains why public counter-drone demonstrations often leave important questions unanswered.

When organisations announce that a high-power microwave system disabled a swarm, observers usually receive limited information about the targets. Critical details are often absent:

  • Exact drone models.
  • Internal electronics configuration.
  • Hardening measures.
  • Firmware versions.
  • Autonomy levels.
  • Shielding characteristics.
  • Post-engagement forensic findings.

Without such information, it is difficult to determine whether the observed result reflects a broadly repeatable capability or a favourable match between the weapon and a particular class of drone. AFRL’s public descriptions of THOR emphasise a “counter-electronic effect” but provide few details about the exact failure mechanisms observed in targets. [Air Force Research Laboratory+2mobilityengineeringtech.com]afresearchlab.comAir Force Research LaboratoryTACTICAL HIGH POWER OPERATIONAL RESPONDER…September 16, 2019 — The system uses high power microwaves to c…Published: September 16, 2019

For that reason, claims about microwave counter-drone effectiveness are often hardest to evaluate precisely when demonstrations appear most impressive. A video can show drones dropping from the sky, but if the target population is not fully disclosed, outsiders cannot easily judge whether the result would extend to other drone families with different electronics, shielding, and levels of hardening. That uncertainty is a central reason why THOR’s underlying kill mechanism remains difficult to verify publicly. Air Force Research Laboratory+2National Defense Magazine [afresearchlab.com]afresearchlab.comAir Force Research LaboratoryTACTICAL HIGH POWER OPERATIONAL RESPONDER…September 16, 2019 — The system uses high power microwaves to c…Published: September 16, 2019

Epirus Leonidas: High-Power Microwave for Counter-Electronics

Channel: Epirus

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Endnotes

  1. Source: gao.gov
    Title: gao 23 106717
    Link: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106717
    Source snippet

    Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy [lasers]({{ 'lasers/' | relative_url }}) and other high power electroma...

    Published: May 2023

  2. Source: mobilityengineeringtech.com
    Link: https://www.mobilityengineeringtech.com/component/content/article/45802-afit-0006
    Source snippet

    Hardening Unmanned Aerial Systems Against High-Power...May 1, 2022 — 14 May 2022 — High power microwave weapons use intentional electrom...

    Published: May 1, 2022

  3. Source: onr.navy.mil
    Link: https://www.onr.navy.mil/organization/departments/code-35/division-353/directed-energy-weapons-high-power-[microwaves
    Source snippet

    Office of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesThe ability to focus the radiated energy reliably and repeatedly at...

  4. Source: mdpi.com
    Title: 2504 446X
    Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/10/4/272
    Source snippet

    Analysis of High-Power Electromagnetic Pulses Effect on...by KJ Lee · 2026 — This study investigates the “soft-kill” mechanism of unmann...

  5. Source: arxiv.org
    Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.08477

  6. Source: academia.edu
    Link: https://www.academia.edu/56158112/Analysis_of_Electromagnetic_Pulse_Effects_Under_High_Power_Microwave_Sources
    Source snippet

    manent damage by radiating concentrated energy in a specific direction to...

  7. Source: mobilityengineeringtech.com
    Title: 48207 air force performs first test of microwave counter drone weapon thor
    Link: https://www.mobilityengineeringtech.com/component/content/article/48207-air-force-performs-first-test-of-microwave-counter-drone-weapon-thor
    Source snippet

    This was the first test of this scale in AFRL history.Read more...

  8. Source: gao.gov
    Link: https://www.gao.gov/assets/830/825926.pdf
    Source snippet

    wave weapons, affect all assets in an area...

  9. Source: gao.gov
    Title: gao 23 105868
    Link: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105868
    Source snippet

    Directed Energy Weapons: DOD Should Focus on...17 Apr 2023 — The Department of Defense (DOD) is currently developing directed energy wea...

  10. Source: gao.gov
    Link: https://www.gao.gov/
    Source snippet

    onal watchdog," GAO investigates federal spending and performance...

  11. Source: afresearchlab.com
    Link: https://afresearchlab.com/counter-swarm-high-power-weapon/
    Source snippet

    Air Force Research LaboratoryTACTICAL HIGH POWER OPERATIONAL RESPONDER...September 16, 2019 — The system uses high power microwaves to c...

    Published: September 16, 2019

  12. Source: ui.adsabs.harvard.edu
    Link: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023ITPS…51.1885M/abstract
    Source snippet

    ADS AbsorptionHigh-Power Microwave Pulse-Induced Failure on...by Q Mao · 2023 · Cited by 28 — In this article, we investigate the impact...

  13. Source: aspistrategist.org.au
    Title: a counter to drone [swarms]({{ ‘swarms/’ | relative_url }}) high power microwave weapons
    Link: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/a-counter-to-drone-swarms-high-power-microwave-weapons/
    Source snippet

    A counter to drone swarms: high-power microwave weapons12 May 2025 — HPM weapons work by emitting directed bursts of electromagnetic ener...

    Published: May 2025

  14. Source: nationaldefensemagazine.org
    Title: counterdrone mission seen as killer app for directed energy
    Link: https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2026/1/20/counterdrone-mission-seen-as-killer-app-for-directed-energy
    Source snippet

    Counter-UAS Mission Seen as Killer App for Directed Energy20 Jan 2026 — High-powered microwaves can blast more energy at a drone or drone...

  15. Source: usfk.mil
    Link: https://www.usfk.mil/What-We-Do/Exercises/Freedom-Shield/?dvpTag=Thor&videoid=904340
    Source snippet

    Tactical High-power Operational ResponderTactical, High-power, Operational, Responder, known as THOR, is a high power microwave counter-d...

Additional References

  1. Source: researchgate.net
    Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/401596360_Shaping_Modern_Warfare_The_Strategic_Role_of_High-Power_Microwave_Directed_Energy_Weapons_in_Multi-Domain_Operations
    Source snippet

    The Strategic Role of High-Power Microwave Directed...8 Mar 2026 — The paper compares HPM DEWs with high-energy laser (HEL) systems alon...

  2. Source: unmannedairspace.info
    Link: https://www.unmannedairspace.info/counter-uas-systems-and-policies/us-army-releases-video-animation-of-high-powered-microwave-technology-designed-to-counter-drone-swarms/
    Source snippet

    US Army releases video animation of high-powered...The system, which shoots high-powered microwaves at unmanned aircraft to disrupt thei...

  3. Source: securityanddefence.pl
    Title: High power microwave for knocking out programmable suicide drones,135068,0,2
    Link: https://securityanddefence.pl/High-power-microwave-for-knocking-out-programmable-suicide-drones%2C135068%2C0%2C2.html
    Source snippet

    High power microwave for knocking out programmable...by MZ Chaari · 2021 · Cited by 24 — When the system detects rogue drones, the high...

  4. Source: unmannedairspace.info
    Title: “DOD spends USD1 billion annually on developing directed energy—concentrated
    Link: https://www.unmannedairspace.info/counter-uas-systems-and-policies/us-gao-report-directed-energy-weapon-technical-maturity-levels-still-lagging/
    Source snippet

    directed energy weapon technical maturity levels still laggingUS GAO report: directed energy weapon technical maturity levels still lagging...

  5. Source: researchgate.net
    Title: 350941439 High power microwave for knocking out programmable suicide drones
    Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350941439_High_power_microwave_for_knocking_out_programmable_suicide_drones
    Source snippet

    (PDF) High power microwave for knocking out...16 Apr 2021 — This article aims to examine the directed energy of HPM (high power microwav...

  6. Source: youtube.com
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjHGxKb6W1c
    Source snippet

    THOR (Tactical High-power Operational Responder) Destroys...RL's THOR (Tactical High-power Operational Responder) is a prototype Directe...

  7. Source: defensescoop.com
    Title: pentagon counter drone task force pilot program directed energy systems
    Link: https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/08/pentagon-counter-drone-task-force-pilot-program-directed-energy-systems/
    Source snippet

    Pentagon counter-drone task force announces pilot...8 May 2026 — The Pentagon's counter-drone task force announced a new pilot program t...

    Published: May 2026

  8. Source: youtube.com
    Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vShNNzZsEAc
    Source snippet

    High power microwave counter drone electronics vulnerability US-made Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-[Drone Swarm]({{ 'swarm-limits/' | relative_url }}) #airdefense UNI...

  9. Source: coherentmarketinsights.com
    Title: directed energy weapons in counter drone missile defense 3576
    Link: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/blog/aerospace-and-defense/directed-energy-weapons-in-counter-drone-missile-defense-3576
    Source snippet

    Directed Energy Weapons in CounterDrone Missile Defense4 May 2026 — This is evidenced by the development of laser DEWs using high-powered...

    Published: May 2026

  10. Source: war.gov
    Title: Gen. Matt Ross, Joint Interagency Task
    Link: https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4479463/site-selections-announced-for-directed-energy-counter-drone-program/
    Source snippet

    Site Selections Announced for Directed-Energy Counter-...6 May 2026 — "Countering unlawful and adversarial drone activity is a homeland...

    Published: May 2026

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