AFRL’s Drone Killer, THOR Wins Popular Science “Best of” Award

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Source: U.S. Department of Defense, https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/30/2002900751/-1/-1/0/211130-F-F3963-1001.JPG
Source: U.S. Department of Defense, https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/30/2002900751/-1/-1/0/211130-F-F3963-1001.JPG

December 1, 2021 | Originally published by U.S. Air Force on November 22, 2021

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) – The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is celebrating the success of its counter drone weapon, the Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR), after being named the Popular Science “Best of What’s New” in the security category.

Each year, Popular Science reviews thousands of new products and innovations to choose the top 100 winners across 10 categories. To win, the technology must represent a significant advancement in its category.

In 2019, scientists and engineers, working in AFRL’s Directed Energy Directorate in New Mexico, were tasked with the challenge of creating a technology that would provide additional layers of base defense–a system that was portable and could be easily operated by service members in an operational setting.