Army Develops Ray Gun

[knapplc]

Screw the Rail Gun - we've got LASERS!!!!

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Georgia (AP) -- The military's new weapon is a ray gun that shoots a beam that makes people feel as if they will catch fire.

The technology is supposed to be harmless -- a non-lethal way to get enemies to drop their weapons.

Military officials say it could save the lives of civilians and service members in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

The weapon is not expected to go into production until at least 2010, but all branches of the military have expressed interest in it, officials said.

During the first media demonstration of the weapon Wednesday, airmen fired beams from a large dish antenna mounted atop a Humvee at people pretending to be rioters and acting out other scenarios U.S. troops might encounter.

The crew fired beams from more than 500 yards (455 meters) away, nearly 17 times the range of existing non-lethal weapons, such as rubber bullets.

While the sudden, 130-degree Fahrenheit (54.44 Celsius) heat was not painful, it was intense enough to make participants think their clothes were about to ignite.

"This is one of the key technologies for the future," said Marine Col. Kirk Hymes, director of the non-lethal weapons program that helped develop the weapon. "Non-lethal weapons are important for the escalation of force, especially in the environments our forces are operating in."

The system uses millimeter waves, which can penetrate only 1/64th of an inch of skin, just enough to cause discomfort. By comparison, common kitchen microwaves penetrate several inches of skin.

The millimeter waves cannot go through walls, but they can penetrate most clothing, officials said. They refused to comment on whether the waves can go through glass.

Two airmen and 10 reporters volunteered to be zapped with the beams, which easily penetrated various layers of winter clothing.

The system was developed by the military, but the two devices being evaluated were built by defense contractor Raytheon.

Airman Blaine Pernell, 22, said he could have used the system during his four tours in Iraq, where he manned watchtowers around a base near Kirkuk. He said Iraqis often pulled up and faked car problems so they could scout U.S. forces.

"All we could do is watch them," he said. But if they had the ray gun, troops "could have dispersed them."

[joelamosobadiah]

Sounds interesting, but if it isn't painful, will it REALLY make people so afraid they are about to catch fire that they drop their guns? I don't know. I guess it is worth a shot at least.

[Tiki]

It must send your nerves into a frenzy! Meh meh make it painful and they got something.

[Flux]

:-? Sounds interesting, but if it isn't painful, will it REALLY make people so afraid they are about to catch fire that they drop their guns? I don't know. I guess it is worth a shot at least.

I dont think its meant for use against armed people. Its more for protestors or getting people to disperse from a riot. It would be used in conjunction with armed soldiers/cops/whatever when neccessary....at least thats my interpretation

[Flux]

another thing though....why dont we make one of these that CAN hurt people? That would be one heck of a threat

[Redskins Win]

:-? Sounds interesting, but if it isn't painful, will it REALLY make people so afraid they are about to catch fire that they drop their guns? I don't know. I guess it is worth a shot at least.

I dont think its meant for use against armed people. Its more for protestors or getting people to disperse from a riot. It would be used in conjunction with armed soldiers/cops/whatever when neccessary....at least thats my interpretation

well it states right off that

The technology is supposed to be harmless -- a non-lethal way to get enemies to drop their weapons.

so i guess they want em to drop their weapons and drop and roll.
they probably can ratchet up the heat so people do catch on fire, which is a sure fire way to make people drop their weapons.

[joelamosobadiah]

:-? Sounds interesting, but if it isn't painful, will it REALLY make people so afraid they are about to catch fire that they drop their guns? I don't know. I guess it is worth a shot at least.

I dont think its meant for use against armed people. Its more for protestors or getting people to disperse from a riot. It would be used in conjunction with armed soldiers/cops/whatever when neccessary....at least thats my interpretation

well it states right off that

The technology is supposed to be harmless -- a non-lethal way to get enemies to drop their weapons.

so i guess they want em to drop their weapons and drop and roll.
they probably can ratchet up the heat so people do catch on fire, which is a sure fire way to make people drop their weapons.

Thanks RW, I was about to post that myself.

[beanoX3]

another thing though....why dont we make one of these that CAN hurt people? That would be one heck of a threat

I'm pretty sure the military is trying. My understanding of laser tech right now, and I'm just a layman at that, is that we do have lethal anti-personnel laser weapons right now. The biggest problem is that they are so large and bulky, there's no way soldiers can carry them around without a large truck.

We're also supposed to have an aircraft-based anti-ballistic missile system, but shooting down missiles have their own inherent difficulties.


In any case, anyone see the commercials for the Discovery Channel where they promoting a show that features future weapons? The commercial seemed to hint that actual weapons were going to be fired, from lasers to some electricity gun. Show definitely looks interesting.

[knapplc]

In any case, anyone see the commercials for the Discovery Channel where they promoting a show that features future weapons? The commercial seemed to hint that actual weapons were going to be fired, from lasers to some electricity gun. Show definitely looks interesting.

I saw something about that while watching Mythbusters on TiVo the other day as it zipped by during the commercial skip. The brief glimpses I saw looked cool.

[Jimboozie]

In any case, anyone see the commercials for the Discovery Channel where they promoting a show that features future weapons? The commercial seemed to hint that actual weapons were going to be fired, from lasers to some electricity gun. Show definitely looks interesting.

I saw something about that while watching Mythbusters on TiVo the other day as it zipped by during the commercial skip. The brief glimpses I saw looked cool.

I've been meaning to catch that show. It's called 'Weapons of the Future' or something and it's on Mondays.