Posted on 08/08/2009 1:30:49 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Active Denial Technology is a breakthrough non-lethal technology that uses millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy to stop, deter and turn back an advancing adversary from relatively long range. It is expected to save countless lives by providing a way to stop individuals without causing injury, before a deadly confrontation develops.
The technology was developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Department of Defense's Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate. Approximately $40 million has been spent on this technology over the past ten years.
In July 2005 it was reported that the Active Denial System would be deployed to Iraq before the end of the year. Under an initiative called Project Sheriff, troops will receive a total of 15 vehicles. These deployments did not take place, and as of early 2007 the initial deployment was slated no sooner than 2010.
This non-lethal technology was developed in response to Department of Defense needs for field commanders to have options short of the use of deadly force. Non-lethal technologies can be used for protection of Defense resources, peacekeeping, humanitarian missions and other situations in which the use of lethal force is undesirable. The system is intended to protect military personnel against small-arms fire, which is generally taken to mean a range of 1,000 meters. The system is described as having a range of 700 yards.
(Excerpt) Read more at globalsecurity.org ...
Photograph of the demonstration hardware
Israel has been using it already, is this suppose to create some sort of panic by making people think that the Federal Government is going to have these on vehicles for crowd control?
I think not.
I agree
It heats the surface of unshielded skin, feeling like a wave of stinging heat. Tinfoil would ward it off well.
Exactly
One wonders how well armored the feed horn in the center of the dish is....
I swear if I see one used against Americans I am heading straight for it with a 10’ wide Jiffy POP!
It is a very short wavelength microwave. The common 2450 MHz kitchen microwave oven generates microwaves of about 12 centimeters, or a little less than 5 inches in length. Penetrating power into water-rich bodies is roughly proportional to the wavelength. If beamed at humans, the energy from a kitchen microwave oven would cause serious heating of internal organs. The microwaves from the weapon are a small fraction of an inch in length and cannot penetrate far. It would feel like the heat radiated from a fire or a glowing hot surface.
One of those large aluminum sled dishes could be used to mirror it back at the operators....
An umbrella with a space blanket, a survivor reflective blanket should be an effective shield.
Ooooh, I’m soooo afraid!
Closer to infrared yes, but still. I just though the term “millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy” instead of microwaves to be a good PR move.
I’m not sure if the microscopic aluminized surface of one of those blankets would stand up to the energy density. The effect might be like that of popping a dinner plate with gilded decorations into a kitchen microwave oven — induction of currents with a burning of the thin metal. This is because the skin depth of the induced currents in the metal is large compared with the metal’s thickness. Kitchen grade aluminum foil on the umbrella would work better I believe. Turn said umbrella upside down and you can even focus the reflected energy back into a point! (Like sunlight through a magnifying glass which ignites a fire.)
Actually I don’t know why they don’t just USE infrared. Instead of a magnetron they’d just have a coil like in a space heater, and the dish would be some kind of polished chrome.
I’d assume that it’s easier to direct the beam efficiently in this frequency range with existing equipment. Plus, this being a military application, they’d like to have a lethal setting option.
It may be effective in Israel against third world country riots but in all fairness and redneck technology it would utterly fail on the first attempt because we already know what a limited device it really is.
Not to mention the fact that even bringing up a subject like this for discussion is moot because the libbies want an agitated response of panic and fear, well they can go ahead and build their mental Marginot Lines, suits me fine, I’m outta here, got much more pressing needs to look into.
A big ole huge reflector broiler, that’s redneck enough to me :-)
A kill would practically call for old fashioned bullets. Incineration alive takes too long.
With the War on Terror over, its first application will be against the mobs - when is the next Tea Party with its’ senior citizens/domestic terrorists?
...peacekeeping, humanitarian missions and other situations in which the use of lethal force is undesirable.
...peacekeeping, humanitarian missions and other situations in which the use of lethal force is undesirable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.