Within Safety Zones
Can THOR Jam Its Own Defenders?
High-power microwave pulses can reach friendly radios, cables and sensors through pathways that operators must control before firing.
On this page
- How microwave energy couples into electronics
- Base systems most vulnerable during engagement
- Why disruption can matter even without permanent damage
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Introduction
High-power microwave (HPM) systems such as THOR are designed to defeat drones by injecting disruptive electromagnetic energy into their electronics. The same physical mechanism that makes this effective against hostile unmanned aircraft can also affect friendly equipment if the electromagnetic environment is not carefully controlled. The key issue is not that a microwave weapon automatically damages everything nearby. Rather, microwave energy can find pathways into radios, sensors, cables and electronic control systems, creating effects that range from brief glitches and system resets to more serious hardware failures under sufficiently intense exposure. Managing those pathways is therefore a central part of safe operation around any counter-drone HPM system. [Office of Naval Research+2GAO]navy.milOffice of Naval Research Directed Energy Weapons: High Power Microwaves HPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad sOffice of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesHPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad spe…
For military bases, the concern is especially important because communications equipment, surveillance sensors, command systems and network infrastructure are often concentrated in a relatively small area. During a drone attack, operators must ensure that the weapon’s counter-electronics effects remain focused on the threat rather than disrupting the systems needed to coordinate the defence. [GAO+2NATO Store]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy lasers and other high power electroma…
How Microwave Energy Couples Into Electronics
The most important concept is electromagnetic coupling. A microwave pulse does not need to strike a circuit board directly to create problems. Instead, energy can enter equipment through conductive structures that act as unintended receivers.
Common coupling paths include:
- Radio antennas and antenna feeds.
- External cables carrying power or data.
- Wiring harnesses inside vehicles or facilities.
- Sensor apertures and exposed electronic interfaces.
- Metallic structures that reradiate energy into connected systems. [Waru University+2Enercon]waru.eduEMP OverviewMan-made EMP (Weapons)… POWER (cable). CURRENT. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. UNINTENTIONAL ANTENNA. CURREN. T. GROUNDING.Read more…
In practical terms, a communications antenna intended to receive radio signals can also collect energy from an HPM pulse. That energy may travel into receivers, amplifiers or processing electronics. Likewise, long cables can behave as unintended antennas, picking up transient energy and conducting it into sensitive equipment. EMP and HPM survivability studies repeatedly identify cables, power lines and antenna connections as major entry routes for damaging electromagnetic effects. [Waru University+2Enercon]waru.eduEMP OverviewMan-made EMP (Weapons)… POWER (cable). CURRENT. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. UNINTENTIONAL ANTENNA. CURREN. T. GROUNDING.Read more…
The U.S. Office of Naval Research describes HPM weapons as systems intended to interact with electronics by coupling energy into targeted systems, producing either temporary disruption or damage. The underlying interaction mechanism is not unique to drones; any sufficiently exposed electronic system can potentially experience similar coupling effects if protective measures are inadequate. [Office of Naval Research]navy.milOffice of Naval Research Directed Energy Weapons: High Power Microwaves HPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad sOffice of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesHPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad spe…
Why Small Electronics Can Be Sensitive
Modern electronics rely on densely packed semiconductor components operating at low voltages. These devices are highly capable but often less tolerant of unexpected voltage spikes than older analogue systems.
When microwave energy enters a circuit, several outcomes are possible:
- Logic errors in processors.
- Corrupted memory states.
- Sensor misreadings.
- Communication dropouts.
- Automatic system reboots.
- Electrical overstress of components in severe cases. [doiSerbia+2ResearchGate]doiserbia.nb.rsKey words:…Read more…
This is one reason HPM weapons are often described as “counter-electronics” systems rather than purely destructive weapons. Their effects can occur before permanent hardware damage is reached. [Epirus+2Office of Naval Research]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Leonidas High-Power Microwave: Directed Energy…Leonidas is a solid-state, high-power HPM system, utilizing Gallium Nitrid…
Which Base Systems Are Most Vulnerable During Engagement?
Not every electronic device on a base faces the same level of risk. Vulnerability depends heavily on exposure, shielding, cable length, antenna configuration and system hardening.
Communications Networks
Radios are among the most obvious concerns because they are intentionally designed to receive electromagnetic energy. Base communications infrastructure may include fixed antennas, relay links, satellite terminals and tactical radio networks.
If strong microwave energy reaches these systems, operators could experience:
- Temporary receiver overload.
- Loss of communications links.
- Reduced signal quality.
- Equipment resets requiring operator intervention. [Office of Naval Research+2NATO Store]navy.milOffice of Naval Research Directed Energy Weapons: High Power Microwaves HPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad sOffice of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesHPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad spe…
For a base defending itself against drones, even a brief communications interruption can complicate command and control during a rapidly evolving engagement.
Sensors and Surveillance Equipment
Air-defence operations depend on sensors. Radar systems, optical tracking networks and electronic surveillance equipment often contain highly sensitive front-end electronics.
Many of these systems are designed to detect weak signals. As a result, they may be particularly susceptible to powerful electromagnetic transients entering through antenna paths or supporting infrastructure. NATO discussions of HPM effects have noted that unprotected electronic systems can be disturbed or damaged even when located inside structures, depending on coupling conditions and protection measures. [NATO Store]sto.nato.intNATO StoreTactical Implications of High Power MicrowavesThe Workshop pro-vided clear evidence of how unprotected electronic systems locat…
Data and Power Infrastructure
The risk is not limited to traditional military hardware. Modern bases depend on servers, network switches, power-conversion equipment and battery systems.
Research into intentional electromagnetic interference has shown that power converters and sensor-controlled electrical systems can be affected by electromagnetic injection, creating operational anomalies even when the equipment is not the primary target. Such findings highlight why support infrastructure is part of electromagnetic safety planning around HPM systems. [arXiv]arxiv.orgAssault and Battery: Evaluating the Security of Power Conversion Systems Against Electromagnetic Injection AttacksMay 11, 2023…
Why Disruption Can Matter Even Without Permanent Damage
A common misconception is that microwave weapons are only a concern if they physically destroy electronics. Operationally, temporary disruption may be just as important.
Military systems are often interconnected. A short-lived outage in one component can propagate through larger networks. For example:
- A communications reset can delay warning messages.
- A sensor glitch can create temporary tracking gaps.
- A network interruption can affect command decisions.
- An automated defence system may require manual recovery. [GAO]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy lasers and other high power electroma…
Counter-drone HPM developers and analysts frequently distinguish between “upset” effects and permanent burnout. An upset effect may involve a crash, reboot or temporary malfunction from which the system later recovers. Burnout involves lasting physical damage. From an operational perspective, either outcome can be significant if it occurs during an active defence scenario. [Defence Finance Monitor]defencefinancemonitor.comDefence Finance MonitorNon-Kinetic Counter-UAS with High Power Microwave8 Dec 2025 — The effects of an HPM hit on a drone can range from…
The Timing Problem
The critical factor is often timing rather than permanence. A radar that resumes normal operation five minutes later may still have failed at the moment it was needed most.
This is why electromagnetic compatibility and deconfliction procedures are central to HPM deployment. Operators must consider not only whether equipment survives exposure, but whether it remains available throughout the engagement window. [GAO+2Navy SBIR]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy lasers and other high power electroma…
Why Operators Establish Control Measures Before Firing
The safety challenge around THOR is therefore largely a problem of electromagnetic management. Before engagement, operators seek to understand what friendly electronics are nearby, how energy could couple into those systems and what protective measures are available.
Typical mitigation approaches discussed in electromagnetic protection literature include:
- Shielding sensitive electronics. [empcommission.org]empcommission.orgility to produce widespread and long lasting disruption and damage to…Read more…
- Filtering power and data connections.
- Managing antenna orientation and placement.
- Establishing exclusion zones around critical equipment.
- Hardening key systems against electromagnetic effects. [arxiv.org]arxiv.orgAssault and Battery: Evaluating the Security of Power Conversion Systems Against Electromagnetic Injection AttacksMay 11, 2023…
- Testing for electromagnetic compatibility before deployment. [Waru University+2EMPCommission.org]waru.eduEMP OverviewMan-made EMP (Weapons)… POWER (cable). CURRENT. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. UNINTENTIONAL ANTENNA. CURREN. T. GROUNDING.Read more…
The need for such measures does not imply that THOR routinely disrupts friendly systems. Publicly available information does not indicate operational incidents involving THOR damaging base electronics. Rather, the physics of high-power microwave weapons make friendly electronics part of the safety calculation. Any system capable of coupling disruptive energy into enemy drones must also account for the possibility of coupling that energy into nearby friendly radios, sensors and infrastructure unless proper controls are in place. [Office of Naval Research+2GAO]navy.milOffice of Naval Research Directed Energy Weapons: High Power Microwaves HPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad sOffice of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesHPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad spe…
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Endnotes
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Office of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesHPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad spe...
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy [lasers]({{ 'lasers/' | relative_url }}) and other high power electroma...
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NATO StoreTactical Implications of High Power MicrowavesThe Workshop pro-vided clear evidence of how unprotected electronic systems locat...
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High-Power Microwave (HPM) Weapons' Effects and...12 Dec 2011 — Develop a tool to model the vulnerability and susceptibility of electron...
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INTRODUCTION TO THE ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE...by R Supler · Cited by 1 — They typically are not designed to protect the electronics from h...
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ility to produce widespread and long lasting disruption and damage to...Read more...
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(PDF) High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and...Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) is an instantaneous, intense energy field that can ov...
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(PDF) Research on high power microwave weaponsThis article describes for high power microwave (abbreviation HPM) weapons research from it...
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Key words:...Read more...
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EpirusEpirus Leonidas High-Power Microwave: Directed Energy...Leonidas is a solid-state, high-power HPM system, utilizing Gallium Nitrid...
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Link: https://www.defencefinancemonitor.com/p/non-kinetic-counter-uas-with-highSource snippet
Defence Finance MonitorNon-Kinetic Counter-UAS with High Power Microwave8 Dec 2025 — The effects of an HPM hit on a drone can range from...
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military is once again pursuing flying directed...” We now have the capability to counter this threat with high-energy laser and high-po...
Additional References
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af.milHigh-Power MicrowavesThe Active Denial System is a counter-personnel, non-lethal, directed energy weapon. Traveling at the speed of...
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On July 20, 2008, the Commission presented a report to the House...Read more...
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Title: high power microwaves more than just a hot lunch
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High power microwaves – more than just a hot lunch!3 Mar 2025 — High-power microwaves are an emerging class of directed energy weapons th...
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And DisruptiveJan 9, 2020 — A DE weapon is a system using DE primarily as a direct means to disable, damage or destroy adversary equipmen...
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Directed Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesOct 4, 2016 — The weapon is designed to disrupt, degrade or destroy electronics of the targ...
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