A Norwegian government scientist secretly built a machine capable of emitting powerful pulses of microwave energy and, in an attempt to demonstrate the devices were harmless to humans, tested it on himself in 2024. He subsequently experienced neurological symptoms similar to those of the “Havana Syndrome,” the unexplained illness affecting hundreds of U.S. Spies and diplomats worldwide.
The Mystery Deepens
This unusual development, described by four people familiar with the matter, represents the latest turn in the decade-long search for the causes of Havana Syndrome, with those affected experiencing lasting effects such as cognitive issues, dizziness, and nausea. The U.S. Government refers to these incidents as “anomalous health incidents” (AHI).
The secret test in Norway had not been previously disclosed. According to two sources, the Norwegian government informed the CIA of the results, prompting at least two visits to Norway in 2024 by officials from the Pentagon and the White House.
Those familiar with the test state it does not prove that AHIs are the work of a foreign adversary wielding a secret weapon similar to the prototype tested in Norway. One source noted the effects experienced by the Norwegian researcher, whose identity remains undisclosed, were not the same as in a “classic” AHI case. All spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter.
However, the events reinforced the argument that “pulsed energy devices”—machines emitting powerful beams of electromagnetic energy, such as microwaves, in short bursts—can affect human biology and are likely being developed by adversaries of the United States.
“I believe there is compelling evidence that we need to be concerned about the ability to build a directed energy weapon that can cause a variety of harms to humans,” stated Paul Friedrichs, a retired military surgeon and Air Force general who oversaw biological threats on the White House National Security Council under the Biden administration. Friedrichs declined to comment on the Norwegian experiment.
Shifting Assessments
The Trump administration took office promising to aggressively address the AHI issue, but visible progress has been limited. A review ordered by the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, is expected to focus primarily on the Biden administration’s handling of the issue, and its release has been delayed, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Separately, the U.S. Government secretly purchased a different device of foreign manufacture, producing pulsed radio waves, at the finish of the Biden administration, based on suspicions it could be related to AHI incidents, according to two sources.
The device is being tested by the Department of Defense and contains some Russian-origin components, though the U.S. Government has not yet conclusively determined who manufactured it.
The device built by the Norwegian scientist was not identical to the one covertly acquired by the U.S. Government. The Norwegian device was constructed based on “classified information,” suggesting it was derived from stolen plans or materials from a foreign government.
Around the same time the U.S. Learned of the two pulsed energy machines, two intelligence agencies revised their previous assessments, concluding that some AHI incidents could be the work of a foreign adversary. This assessment was published in an updated U.S. Intelligence evaluation in January 2025, during the final weeks of the Biden administration.
“The new reporting” led the two agencies “to change their assessments of whether a foreign actor has the capability to cause biological effects consistent with some of the reported symptoms as possible AHIs.”
One agency was the National Security Agency, which intercepts and decodes foreign electronic communications. The other was the National Ground Intelligence Center, an Army intelligence agency based in Charlottesville that produces information on adversaries’ scientific, technical, and military capabilities.
Most U.S. Intelligence agencies, including the CIA and four others, maintained that it remained “very unlikely” that the attacks were the work of a foreign adversary or that a foreign actor had developed a novel weapon. U.S. Intelligence agencies reportedly intercepted conversations where adversaries expressed surprise at the AHI incidents and denied involvement.
What Happens Next?
The CIA declined to comment on the Norwegian test or its impact on the agency’s analysis. The Norwegian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
Some former officials and AHI victims have pointed to Russia as a primary suspect in the AHI incidents, citing decades of work on directed energy devices. No conclusive public evidence has emerged, and Moscow has denied involvement.
The two known directed energy devices, along with other investigations, appear to have prompted a reconsideration of the causes of Havana Syndrome, named for the mysterious outbreak of symptoms first reported by U.S. Embassy staff in Havana in 2016. Hundreds of cases have since been reported worldwide, including in China, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere. A senior advisor to then-CIA Director William J. Burns reported symptoms while traveling in India in 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are anomalous health incidents (AHI)?
AHI, also known as the “Havana Syndrome,” refers to a set of unexplained symptoms experienced by U.S. Diplomats, intelligence officers, and their families, including dizziness, headaches, nausea, and cognitive difficulties.
Did the Norwegian experiment prove a foreign adversary is responsible for AHI?
No, those familiar with the test stated it did not demonstrate that AHI is the work of a foreign adversary. The effects experienced by the researcher were not the same as in a “classic” AHI case.
What is the U.S. Government doing to investigate AHI?
The U.S. Government is testing a foreign-made device that produces pulsed radio waves and has ordered a review of the Biden administration’s handling of the issue. Multiple intelligence agencies continue to assess the potential causes of AHI.
Given the ongoing investigations and evolving assessments, what role might directed energy weapons play in these incidents, and what steps might be taken to protect personnel stationed abroad?
