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Science & Technology
Global Hawk Gets Death Ray
2006-12-10
December 9, 2006: High resolution radar is being installed in a Global Hawk UAV. This Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar consists of thousands of tiny radars that can be independently aimed in different directions. An AESA radar was used on the JSTARS aircraft, enabling it to locate vehicles moving on the ground. A new AESA radar for JSTARS enables them to spot smaller, man sized, objects. AESA type radars have been around a long time, popular mainly for their ability deal with lots of targets simultaneously, and produce a more accurate picture of what is out there.

A sufficiently powerful AESA radar can also focus enough energy to damage aircraft or missiles. The U.S. has already been doing this with the high-powered microwave (HPM) effects generated by similar AESA radars used in F14, F35 and F22 aircraft. This is sort of like the EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) put out by nuclear weapons. AESA has demonstrated that it can disable missiles and aircraft. AESA in a Global Hawk could disable electronics on the ground.

The air force has said that the larger AESA radar it plans to install on its new E-10 radar aircraft would be able to zap cruise missile guidance systems up to 180 kilometers away. The E-10 AESA is several times larger than the ones found in fighters and the Global Hawk, so make your own range estimates.

Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC

#9  STRATEGYPAGE > Chicoms-PLAN UNDER-WHELMED about new Type 093/094 SSN designs + operability. LOTSA $$$ REWORK likely iff to use as basis for 094-style SSBN/FBM hulls [first SSBN/FBM deployment planned for circa 2008].
*STAR WARS "EMPIRE" THEME NOW, BOYZ, WID FEELING > DA DA DA DA DU DEDA DU DEDA .................@
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2006-12-10 22:49  

#8  Ask old "dinnerjacket" in a couple of weeks after he's zapped for the second or third time. I'm sure the answer will be something like "wubba, wubba".
Posted by: Old Patriot   2006-12-10 19:04  

#7  ... old-fashioned tubes are far more resistant to such radiation; so they put tube electronics in high performance aircraft to protect them from EMP.

In a world that is increasingly dependent upon digital processing, conventional vacuum tubes cannot be configured into compact bulk arrays like the high speed microelectronic circuits required for tactical calculations in combat dog-fighting and target acquisition.

New advances in solid state circuit design, such as fast switching zener diodes and, more importantly, vacuum microelectronics can fabricate solid state vacuum tubes (see image below) on a microscopic scale that exhibit all of their more bulky brethern's resistance to EMP.



Vacuum Components & Circuits

SMD's edge emitters can be made into the main elements diodes, triodes (transistors), tetrodes - needed for integrated circuits. This technology makes possible for the first time true vacuum integrated circuits.

Wireless/High-Speed: SMD is developing vacuum transistors for high speed RF amplifiers elements. This technology has the potential for frequencies > 100 GHz.

Power Electronics: VME devices are similar to vacuum tubes in their ability to handle high power levels. SMD's devices can be formed into power electronic circuits.

Hardened Circuits: VME devices can withstand radiation and EMP (electromagnetic pulse) doses that would destroy semiconductor ICs. Interest in hardened circuits is increasing for defense, space and homeland security applications. SMD believes it has the most versatile, economical way to make invulnerable circuits.

Our ability to fabricate complex multimode mixed signal hybrid microelectronis of this sort is unparalelled by any other nation on earth. Such designs provide a degree of compactness, power efficiency, complexity and superior processing speed that conventional vacuum tubes cannot even dream of approaching.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-12-10 16:58  

#6  Tubes? - just get some big spark gaps...
Posted by: 3dc   2006-12-10 16:35  

#5  The US needs to be very careful about using such means to fry electronics, because the Russians learned long ago, that old-fashioned tubes are far more resistant to such radiation; so they put tube electronics in high performance aircraft to protect them from EMP.

It would be a real drag if all of a sudden the enemies' electronic signatures remained loud and clear, when you expected them to be subdued.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-12-10 15:39  

#4  More importantly, this may be able to be used for frying the cell phones being employed as triggers for IEDs. Too bad there's not some convenient way of mapping high signal absorption points to chart buried IEDs once their triggers have been fried. Similarly, this may also be able to kill cell phones used by terrorists as walkie-talkies. The fact that it can neutralize the guidance packages of some AA platforms is merely a bonus.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-12-10 15:21  

#3  Yes, but how long until you can use it to microwave brains?
Posted by: Excalibur   2006-12-10 14:35  

#2  Hmmm...Assmaddinojackass' Soviet TOR AA system suddenly drops sharply in resale value.
Posted by: Duh!   2006-12-10 13:38  

#1  "Taxi!"
Posted by: mrp   2006-12-10 13:14  

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