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U.S. eyes heat-beaming weapon by 2010
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2007-01-24T205934Z_01_N2442 ^ | Wed Jan 24, 2007 | Jim Wolf

Posted on 01/24/2007 4:55:22 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0

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Toast at 500 yards. Nice.
1 posted on 01/24/2007 4:55:23 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
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To: Rb ver. 2.0

More proof the U.S. is to blame for global warming.


2 posted on 01/24/2007 4:56:53 PM PST by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: Man50D

Someone had to say it, right? ;)


3 posted on 01/24/2007 4:59:18 PM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: Rb ver. 2.0

"The pain ended as soon as the target jumped from the line of fire."

Wonder what happens if someone falls in the mad dash to get away.


4 posted on 01/24/2007 5:00:53 PM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: sageb1

The snow melting possibilities are interesting.


5 posted on 01/24/2007 5:03:01 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0 (A Muslim soldier can never be loyal to a non-Muslim commander.)
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To: Rb ver. 2.0

Can you have one shipped to DC for Jan 27th??? The DC chapter could use one.


6 posted on 01/24/2007 5:03:37 PM PST by Thunder90
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To: Rb ver. 2.0
We already have a heat-beaming weapon:


7 posted on 01/24/2007 5:07:00 PM PST by quark
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To: sageb1
The burning sensation is achieved by high-power energy waves that heat the skin to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can get a 1st degree burn to the skin from 130 degree hot water in about 2 seconds.

But hot water stays in direct contact with the skin, this being light rays would take longer.

It also occurs to me that one would have to be careful of such a weapon that there would be a minimum safe distance at which you could use the weapon or that the intensity or power output would need to be adjustable for the distance to the target.

8 posted on 01/24/2007 5:10:16 PM PST by Pontiac (Patriotism is the natural consequence of having a free mind in a free society.)
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To: Rb ver. 2.0

Too bad that the libs will probably kill the funding for it, now that they are in charge!!


9 posted on 01/24/2007 5:12:20 PM PST by penelopesire
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To: Rb ver. 2.0
Giant hand not included:


10 posted on 01/24/2007 5:13:41 PM PST by quark
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To: Rb ver. 2.0

Raytheon going back through its old patents? Sounds like the old wide-area microwave oven!


11 posted on 01/24/2007 5:15:50 PM PST by NonValueAdded (Pelosi, the call was for Comity, not Comedy. But thanks for the laughs. StarKisses, NVA.)
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To: Rb ver. 2.0

A regular wire mesh screen, similar to what one has in the door of a microwave oven, ought to absorb the beam and protect the shielded person. just wrap it around the clothes and on one's hat to cover the head, avoiding any contact with the skin.


12 posted on 01/24/2007 5:17:14 PM PST by GSlob
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To: Pontiac

Not really. Keep in mind that the weapon doesn't actually fire heat, it fires microwave energy that creates a thin layer of heat onto any water bearing object it strikes. If the beam is relatively tight, it could target a person 5 years away, and then 500 yards away, with little difference in the effective impact on the victim.

The cool thing about this is the amplitude of the signal...it only penetrates a millimeter or so into your skin AND it's pulsed. A sustained hit doesn't penetrate enough to do any damage, and the pulse is short enough that it doesn't heat your skin up all that much. Just enough to get your nerve endings to fire. You will FEEL like you're on fire, without ever actually heating up.

Saw a preview of this on TV a while back. The military has been working on it for quite a few years now.


13 posted on 01/24/2007 5:27:31 PM PST by Arthalion
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To: GSlob
"Say, why are all those folks over there wearing mosquito netting?"p>
14 posted on 01/24/2007 5:29:43 PM PST by T. P. Pole
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To: Rb ver. 2.0
I learned all I needed to know about non-lethal wepons from The Maltese Falcon:

Scene 115: INT. SPADE'S LIVING ROOM

GUTMAN: Well, sir, there are other means of persuasion besides killing or threatening to kill.

SPADE: Sure. But they aren't much good unless the threat of death is behind them. See what I mean? If you start anything I'll make it a matter of you having to kill me or call it off.

GUTMAN: (chuckles) That's and attitude, sir, that calls for the most delicate judgement on both sides...

Non-leathal means only work well against those insufficiently commited to their cause. Hippies, and such like. Pirates and revolutionaries with nothing to lose might be another matter.

15 posted on 01/24/2007 5:30:37 PM PST by rbookward (When 900 years old you are, type as well you will not!)
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To: T. P. Pole

Well, it's high time to return to chain mail in clothing fashion. They say it is VERY durable.


16 posted on 01/24/2007 5:31:43 PM PST by GSlob
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To: GSlob

Chain mail would be your worst fashion choice. The "heat ray" (it's really more a "pain ray") is basically a microwave oven turned inside out: it causes pain by microwaving the water in your skin. It works even better on metal. Think of what happens when you put a foil-wrapped potato into a microwave... then imagine it's YOU who are wrapped in metal foil...

The only way to beat this thing would be a) to approach it while inside a Faraday cage or b) to expose yourelf to it deliberately over and over until you develop the psychological ability to ignore the all-over burning sensation.


17 posted on 01/24/2007 5:38:39 PM PST by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
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To: rbookward
Non-leathal means only work well against those insufficiently commited to their cause. Hippies, and such like. Pirates and revolutionaries with nothing to lose might be another matter.

I wonder if it could keep someone that is pinned down from poking their head out and taking aim, while we take out their hiding place...
18 posted on 01/24/2007 5:40:48 PM PST by xmission
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To: Rb ver. 2.0

About time we put the heat to them.


19 posted on 01/24/2007 5:43:40 PM PST by hgro
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To: GSlob
The beam is directional perhaps a shield of aluminum window screen or foil.

As long as you know from which direction the emitter is firing.

20 posted on 01/24/2007 5:44:37 PM PST by Pontiac (Patriotism is the natural consequence of having a free mind in a free society.)
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