Air Force Testing Out Weapons That Fry Enemy Drones with Directed Energy, Microwaves Leaders from the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office enter the control center of the Tactical High Power Operational Responder, or THOR, to view the system’s drone-killing capabilities, Feb. 11, 2021 at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. (U.S. Air Force/John Cochran) 25 Feb 2021 The U.S. Air Force is testing new counter-drone systems that use either direct energy or microwaves to take out unmanned drones that pose a threat to troops and bases overseas. The service announced this month that it has been testing an upgraded laser system, known as the High Energy Laser Weapon System 2, or H2, through a series of experiments that began last summer at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.