U.S. tested miniaturized microwave device tied to Havana Syndrome, sources say
Mar 9th 2026
Sources tell 60 Minutes that a classified 2024 operation bought a Russian-made, miniature microwave device and tested it on animals with results that match reported symptoms of Havana Syndrome, prompting renewed investigation and a formal review by U.S. intelligence officials.
- Undercover Homeland Security agents bought a portable microwave device from a Russian criminal network in 2024 with Pentagon funding, sources say.
- Sources describe the device as concealable, programmable, silent, and able to project a pulsed beam several hundred feet through windows and drywall.
- Classified tests at a U.S. military lab on rats and sheep reportedly produced injuries consistent with those reported by diplomats and intelligence officers.
- Security camera footage described to reporters allegedly shows people clutching their heads or collapsing after sudden exposures in locations including an embassy and a restaurant.
- Independent scientific reviews led by Dr. David Relman had previously identified pulsed microwave energy as a plausible mechanism for a subset of cases.
- Some U.S. agencies earlier assessed a foreign attack was very unlikely while officials in the White House privately met victims and expressed belief in their injuries.
- The Office of the Director of National Intelligence says it is conducting a comprehensive review of anomalous health incidents and remains committed to delivering the truth.