Primary Intelligence Asset

USAF HPM Weapons 2020

Declassified Public record OCR verified
INTEL

Executive Summary

This document examines the development and strategic potential of High Power Microwave (HPM) weapons, which use bursts of energy to disable electronics without causing physical harm to people or buildings. It argues that these 'game-changing' technologies are now ready to be moved from experimental labs into the active military inventory to provide a competitive edge.
Analysis Confidence: High
ST_CODE: 7F3867

System Metadata

Source ID

DOC-USAF_HPM

Process Date

8/9/2026

Integrity Hash

SHA256-clkgp1qpgqf...

Indexer Status

COMPLETE

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INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS

Summary

This document examines the development and strategic potential of High Power Microwave (HPM) weapons, which use bursts of energy to disable electronics without causing physical harm to people or buildings. It argues that these 'game-changing' technologies are now ready to be moved from experimental labs into the active military inventory to provide a competitive edge.

Origin

Major Jack McGonegal, USAF; ACTS 2.0 Research Task Force, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.

Purpose

The research was conducted to fulfill mandates from the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the National Defense Strategy, aiming to justify the transition of directed energy weapons from the laboratory to operational military use.

Why It Matters

" This document is highly relevant to the study of aerospace 'black programs' as it details the Air Force Research Lab's (AFRL) long-term development of directed energy, a field often overlapping with advanced propulsion and fusion research (e.g., the work of Miley and Sandia). It provides a contemporary bridge between high-energy physics applications and the strategic doctrine of the Department of Defense, highlighting the shift toward electronic-based warfare. "

Key Claims

  • › The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) mandated the establishment of a program to prototype and demonstrate directed energy weapons.
  • › AFRL successfully demonstrated HPM technology on an airborne platform in 2012.
  • › HPM weapons operate within a frequency range of 1 megahertz to 100 gigahertz.
  • › The Air Force created a Directed Energy Flight Plan to describe how DEWs engage targets with little to no collateral damage.

Contribution to the Field

This document specifically links High Power Microwave technology to a 'countervalue targeting' strategy, suggesting HPMs be used to strike infrastructure vital to a nation's survival as a form of non-kinetic coercion.

Full Transcript

Transcript

Page 1 of 3

INTRODUCTION

HIGH POWER MICROWAVE WEAPONS: DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FUTURE Major Jack Mc Gonegal, USAF ACTS 2.0 Research Task Force Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL Spring 2020 As the Department of Defense has shifted focus to near-peer competition, there has been a push to field technologies that will offer the United States a strategic advantage. The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) has been designing, building, and testing technologies that can provide this advantage, but many have never made it to the operational inventory. One of those technologies is Pulsed-wave High Power Microwaves (HPM). HPMS has been in development for over 30 years and has seen significant advancements in the size, weight, and power of the weapon. These weapons started as large ground-based systems, but in 2012 the technology had advanced to the point that AFRL placed it on an airborne platform. Since this technology demonstration, AFRL has continued to pursue advancements in this technology. HPMs also provide an opportunity to revisit an old nuclear targeting strategy, countervalue strikes. HPMs can be used to strike targets that are vital to the survival of the nation while negating collateral damage concerns. These weapons provide a unique capability to deter potential adversaries from taking action or compelling them to stop a course of action. These weapons are the type of disruptive technology the US needs to maintain its competitive advantage. DISTRIBUTION A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. Table of Contents Introduction.....................................................................................................3 High Power Microwaves......................................................................................4 Previous HPM Platforms/Capabilities.......................................................................5 Deploying Future HPM Platforms...........................................................................8 HPM Intelligence Support Requirements.................................................................11 HPMs as a Coercive Instrument............................................................................12 HPM Countervalue Targeting..............................................................................15

Cited In (1 references)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this document? ▾
This document examines the development and strategic potential of High Power Microwave (HPM) weapons, which use bursts of energy to disable electronics without causing physical harm to people or buildings. It argues that these 'game-changing' technologies are now ready to be moved from experimental ...
Where does this document come from? ▾
Major Jack McGonegal, USAF; ACTS 2.0 Research Task Force, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.
What is the research purpose of this document? ▾
The research was conducted to fulfill mandates from the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the National Defense Strategy, aiming to justify the transition of directed energy weapons from the laboratory to operational military use.
Where is this document cited in the investigation? ▾
This document is referenced in 1 places across the investigation: 1 Research Rounds. See the "Cited In" section below for the complete list of pages that reference this document.