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| Science & Technology |
| Air Force's High-Powered Microwave Weapons |
| 2009-07-31 |
| In modern warfare, where missions are sometimes over in minutes, a blind enemy is a defeated enemy. The electromagnetic pulse from a nuclear weapon detonated miles aboveground would zap an armyÂ’s surveillance equipment, but not without causing heavy collateral damage. Instead, a new Air Force tool will fry electronics using high-power microwaves emitted by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The U.S. Air Force recently secured $40 million for the project, and while program leader Robert Torres will confirm successful ground and in-flight tests of an earlier device, heÂ’s tight-lipped on future details. Edl Schamiloglu, a high-power microwave expert at the University of New Mexico, speculates that the weapon would focus microwaves on a target, where they would induce a power surge in unshielded wires, destroying circuits in satellite dishes, radars and anything else electronic. This would clear the way for troops or airstrikes and could even wipe out gear in hidden bunkers. A UAV, such as BoeingÂ’s upcoming stealth Phantom Ray, will probably be the conveyance of choice, because it can fly into enemy territory without risking a pilotÂ’s life. This raises a challenge for powering the instrument, Schamiloglu says. Although a UAVÂ’s small engine could provide some power, it will take high-capacity batteries to produce the gigawatt microwave pulses. Torres will say that he expects a prototype to be ready for flight tests in 2012, during which his team will adjust the beam to ensure that it inflicts damage only on the target. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #4 I really worry about developing weapons like this, because they're far more likely to be stolen and used against us than they are to be used against primitive enemies (Taliban/Iraq). |
| Posted by: gromky 2009-07-31 21:04 |
| #3 I have always read and loved Science Fiction,(The real stuff, not the crap slasher films deliberately mislabeled) And have actually seen the supposed Science Fiction ideas come true. HEINLEIN WAS RIGHT. wait long enough, and the products dreamed about WILL be fact. Practical Nuclear power. Nuclear Powered Warships. Moon Landings. Supersonic Fighter Aircraft Robot Drones (Almost here, still require humans as pilots) Guided Missiles (As opposed to unguided Rockets) Each and every one, a science fiction dream when I was born. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-07-31 11:45 |
| #2 Death rays! I love it. |
| Posted by: Mike 2009-07-31 09:47 |
| #1 Wow! 0.7 microseconds to cook a hot dog. Where can I get one? |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2009-07-31 08:53 |