The concept and tech isn’t new — even Tesla was thinking about it and others were working on related tech — but now it will be airborne. Just the tool needed to apply to a crowd of protesters not wanting to be forced into getting swine flu shots or pay for government health care or whatever else the government wants. Imagine if we equip cops with personal-sized versions. Gates would have been toast. Literally.
The Pentagon’s enthusiasm for non-lethal crowd-control weapons appears to have stepped up a gear with its decision to develop a microwave pain-infliction system that can be fired from an aircraft.
The device is an extension of its controversial Active Denial System, which uses microwaves to heat the surface of the skin, creating a painful sensation without burning that strongly motivates the target to flee. The ADS was unveiled in 2001, but it has not been deployed owing to legal issues and safety fears.
Nevertheless, the Pentagon’s Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD) in Quantico, Virginia, has now called for it to be upgraded. The US air force, whose radar technology the ADS is based on, is increasing its annual funding of the system from $2 million to $10 million.
I suppose it might have some advantages over carpet bombing and naplam in some circumstances like when you don’t want to actually kill everybody.
There is of course a fine line between something that doesn’t work and something that won’t stop the drug crazed hard heads. It is a sad fact that the later group often requires major damage to the central nervous system for an instant stop.
Does this thing play the “Brown Note”?
Mid-2009 and a military weapon system not being cut back by the White House? Amazing.
As Obama’s poll numbers continue to shrink, this system will be a perfect non-lethal crowd-control for all those expected tax protesters.
“expected tax protesters”? You know… those 95% of Americans who were not supposed to be nailed with a tax increase under his watch.
Keep a Cup-O-Noodles in your pocket so after they’re done you can have lunch…
Seems to me I saw this being tested on a reporter on the evening news or maybe it was 60 minutes or Nightline. Very amusing to watch the reporter trying to see how long he could withstand it. Hey, it’s why they earn the big bucks.
#1 It will be used against crowds, not foreign enemies. You can’t get away with napalming your own citizens. (Well, unless you are Iran.) Just wait until all the tax protesters (or the seniors complaining that health care has now rationed them out) with pace makers get killed by the microwaves this thing shoots out.
Nice ray gun picture by the way. Looks like they made it out of an old vacuum cleaner.
[It's an Electrolux: Here and here -- UD]
Maybe they can find a way to equip this on all those corpse eating robots they’re developing. What could go wrong?
What happens if you are wearing tin foil?
Won’t be real selective about the area it can target, I’ll bet. You’ll see the rioters AND the riot police running like hell to get away from this thing.
You can build your own with this book.
Thing looks like an old Electrolux vaccuum on a tripod. It’ll suck the life right out of you!
And I’m guessing reflectors would be illegal?
I wonder how many people will go blind after the heat from it starts to melt your eyes?
Don’t microwave me, brotron!
#13
Anything that allows you to maintain your rights would be illegal. You know like the right to peaceably assemble or freedom of speech. Just the little things.
Sort of like driving in Virginia or DC and not being allowed to have a radio receiver for certain wavelengths in your car and turned on.
#16…that receiver law has been on the books in Michigan since forever.
Because these things are “non lethal” the overlords have learned that on its increasing frequency of use, the sheep will continue to graze and think “never happen to me.”
I love my dear old dad because “he never beat me.” Made up for all his other sins.
Same with our governments use of non lethal tools of authoritarian control. At least they weren’t a lot worse.
Love of country.
It will be big in China also.
On the bright side, it’s likely to zorch all those RFID tags in your clothes, wallet, and skin so your identity will be harder to steal.