WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has spent over a year testing a device purchased through an undercover operation that some officials believe could be linked to Havana Syndrome, a mysterious illness affecting US diplomats, spies, and military personnel, according to sources cited by CNN.
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The device, acquired in the final months of the Biden administration, cost “eight figures” and was purchased by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with Defense Department funding. It produces pulsed radio waves, which some investigators and academics have speculated could explain the anomalous health episodes, though debate and skepticism remain over its actual connection.
❗️ Pentagon ‘bought’ and used ‘Havana Syndrome’ weapon — CNN
The device allegedly produces pulsed radio waves — a potential cause of ‘anomalous health episodes’
US officials paid ‘eight figures’ via an undercover operation for the weapon, CNN’s sources claim pic.twitter.com/Dbt4GHqiyu
— RT (@RT_com) January 13, 2026
Officials say the device is portable, capable of fitting into a backpack, raising concerns about its potential use and proliferation. While it contains Russian components, it is not fully Russian in origin.
Havana Syndrome first emerged in late 2016, when US diplomats in Havana, Cuba, reported symptoms such as vertigo, severe headaches, and other signs consistent with head trauma. Cases have since been reported globally, prompting a decade-long effort by the intelligence community and the Defense Department to determine whether a foreign-directed energy attack was responsible. Victims have accused the US government of dismissing evidence, while senior officials have said there is insufficient proof to link the illnesses to foreign powers.
The device has been briefed to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, highlighting concerns over its potential proliferation to other countries. Officials fear that if the technology proves viable, multiple nations could gain access to a tool capable of inflicting career-threatening injuries on US personnel.
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The exact source of the device remains undisclosed. HSI has historically collaborated with the Defense Department on global operations, including investigations of customs violations and proliferation of controlled US technologies. The testing of the device has reignited debate over Havana Syndrome, underscoring ongoing uncertainties surrounding the cause of these unexplained health incidents.