ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The U.S. Navy and Air Drive analysis laboratories are wrapping up a five-year joint effort to advance high-power microwave expertise this summer season with two months of testing in California.
The Excessive-Powered Joint Electromagnetic Non-Kinetic Strike Weapon, referred to as HiJENKS, makes use of microwave expertise to disable an adversary’s digital programs. The Air Drive Analysis Laboratory and the Workplace of Naval Analysis are conducting the capstone exams at Naval Air Station China Lake.
HiJENKS is the successor to the AFRL’s Counter-electronics Excessive-Energy Microwave Superior Missile Undertaking, which accomplished testing a decade in the past. Jeffry Heggemeier, chief of AFRL’s high-power electromagnetics division, informed reporters throughout a June 24 go to to the lab’s Directed Vitality Directorate at Kirtland Air Drive Base in New Mexico this system builds on CHAMP, profiting from new expertise that permits for a smaller system outfitted for a extra rugged surroundings.
Heggemeier stated this system hasn’t but designated a platform for the weapon, however famous HiJENKS’ smaller footprint means it may very well be built-in on a wider vary of provider programs.
“We’ll begin taking a look at extra service-specific purposes as soon as we’ve accomplished this take a look at that demonstrates the expertise,” he stated.
AFRL can be making progress on a extra superior model of its Tactical Excessive Energy Operational Responder (THOR), which makes use of HPM expertise to disable drone swarms that pose a risk to navy bases. The following-generation platform is called Mjölnir as an homage to the legendary god Thor’s hammer. AFRL awarded Leidos a $26 million contract in February to develop the Mjölnir prototype and ship it in early 2024.
Adrian Lucero, THOR and Mjölnir program supervisor, informed reporters throughout the identical June 24 briefing that counter-drone programs have gotten more and more related as unmanned aerial automobile expertise advances.
“There are different effectors on the market which might be supposed to go in opposition to drone programs like weapons, nets and laser programs,” he stated. “However what Thor brings to the desk is it has a bigger vary to have an effect on and it has a decreased engagement time.”
The THOR prototype returned final month from a yr of operational testing abroad. Whereas the system was in use, this system group was exhausting at work creating the Mjolnir upgrades to increase THOR’s vary, improve its energy by about 50% and enhance its usability — suggestions from the Air Drive Safety Forces who had been utilizing it through the deployment.
“We realized numerous classes from it being abroad, simply working in that operational surroundings, having Air Drive Safety Forces airmen pulling the set off and breaking it,” Heggemeier stated.
Lucero and Heggemeier wouldn’t disclose the place THOR was deployed, however Lucero stated the system proved 94% dependable throughout its operational evaluation, demonstrating its means “in the true world.”
As soon as the prototype arrived again in New Mexico, the group disassembled and inspected it after which reassembled it for baseline testing to make sure it’s working as designed. Lucero stated this system is now testing the Mjölnir upgrades.
Courtney Albon is C4ISRNET’s area and rising expertise reporter. She beforehand lined the U.S. Air Drive and U.S. Area Drive for Inside Protection.
