RTX's CHIMERA High-Power Microwave System Completes Three-Week Field Test

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and Raytheon, an RTX business, have announced the completion of a three-week field test for the Counter-Electronic High-Power Microwave Extended-Range Air Base Defense system (CHIMERA) at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

CHIMERA, identified as a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon, demonstrated its capabilities during the field test by effectively applying directed energy to multiple static target variations. The system also displayed end-to-end fire control, successfully acquiring and tracking aerial targets throughout their entire flight path.

Designed to fire highly concentrated radio energy at multiple middle-to-long-range targets, CHIMERA provides rapid counteraction against airborne threats at the speed of light.

The successful CHIMERA test is part of the broader Directed Energy Front-line Electromagnetic Neutralization and Defeat (DEFEND) program, a joint service initiative focused on designing, building, and testing HPM systems for front-line deployment. CHIMERA's contributions to this effort involve collaboration with partners from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, and the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

Dr. Shery Welsh, Director of the Directed Energy Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory, acknowledged the collaboration between government and industry partners, stating, "This highlights the potential outcomes of collaborative efforts between government and industry partners, resulting in technological advancements that can be integrated into mission architectures alongside other directed energy technologies and kinetics."