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By
Theresa Hitchens on December 22, 2020 at 11:53 AM
High-Power Laser Weapon System (HELWS), Raytheon image
WASHINGTON: The Air Force yesterday said that it is not yet testing its prototype drone-killing microwave, the Tactical High Power Microwave Operational Responder (THOR), abroad retracting a statement made last week by Chief Scientist Richard Joseph. Instead, the service “has either deployed or will deploy a total of three” High Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS) variants developed by Raytheon, an Air Force spokesman said, declining to reveal where they are being used.
“The THOR system is currently at Kirtland AFB after undergoing pre-deployment upgrades. 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,” the spokesperson told