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Millimeter-Wave Weapon Certified For Use In Iraq
jdray writes "Wired has a story on the certification of the Active Denial System for use in Iraq. The ADS is a millimeter-wave weapon that uses a reportedly non-lethal energy beam to inflict short-term pain on its targets, encouraging them to leave an area. Experimenters call this the 'Goodbye effect.' I can see using this in a wartime situation, but how long before we see these things mounted to the top of S.W.A.T. vans for domestic crowd control? And, is that a bad idea?" From the article: The ADS shoots a beam of millimeters waves, which are longer in wavelength than x-rays but shorter than microwaves — 94 GHz (= 3 mm wavelength) compared to 2.45 GHz (= 12 cm wavelength) in a standard microwave oven... while subjects may feel like they have sustained serious burns, the documents claim effects are not long-lasting. At most, 'some volunteers who tolerate the heat may experience prolonged redness or even small blisters'... There has been no independent checking of the military's claims." Wired use Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain documents on the military's testing program.
Time to don the triple layered Tin foil suit with extra ball protection.
...
The army will have to think harder when civilians start running at them with faraday cages around them.
Additional questions
Would a metal plate reflect the radiation back at them?
How many minutes does it take to cook a human?
Does this device go "ding" when its done?
liqbase
"At most, 'some...may experience prolonged redness or even small blisters'"
They slept with Susie too???! That tramp!
That's sooo Osama bin Laden.
They do nothing!!
This is my signature. There are many like it but this one is mine.
S.W.A.T. vans aren't my concern, what about the poor children swimming?
There have been cases of riot police using water jets and having their vehicle overturned. At that point, things got...ugly. Water jets are, largely, point-focus weapons.
And water is dangerous. Ask any drowning victim.
Actually, I think it would be pretty cool if they DID warn the crowd with a general purpose disclaimer.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are about to irradiate you. Please remove all glasses, contact lenses, wristwatches, jewelry, rings and any other metal object from your body. We are pretty sure this won't harm you permanently, but it definitely hurts, and you notice we don't get in front of the beam. This is you last chance to leave the area. If you do notice any lasting effects, please write to the Advance Weapons Lab, Area Defense Branch, Los Alamos, New Mexico. Stand by for irradiation. OK, hit 'em Joe."
Just put it on a recording that play the first time you pull the trigger.
Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now, and let us slay him... and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
To toot my own horn, I have better distance vision than anyone I know as well, although my close-up is starting to get fuzzy :(
If you stop "tooting your horn", it shouldn't get any worse.
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