[alnitak]

Interesting, sounds like a microwave version of Leik Myrabo's "lightship" work.

I remember hearing a few years ago about how a microwave version would be better than laser because microwave generators could be scaled up more easily.

[anobjectivist]

Well, you beat me to it.

[LenS]

But wouldn't the microwaves be a hazard to anything between the rising rocket and the microwave generator? Cooked birds, for example?

And if yes, wouldn't this make an excellent missile and air defense system?

If I were America's enemies, I would counter our air dominance by developing new air defense systems -- energy beams of all types or rail guns or whatever. Instead of trying to put together a complex system that took us a half century to achieve in the air, try to leap ahead and make it so that anything that flies, dies. Thus negating our edge and returning it to a ground battle where our edge isn't as huge.

[anymouse]

Dr. Myrabo also did research on microwave versions of his lightcraft. I'm sure this is follow on research based on his work