Oh this looks like fun. I’ll be sure to wear mylar underwear to any protests I attend after 2010.
The US military has given the first public display of what it says is a revolutionary heat-ray weapon to repel enemies or disperse hostile crowds.
Called the Active Denial System, it projects an invisible high energy beam that produces a sudden burning feeling, but is said to be harmless.
Holy irony, Batman! Who makes up these names?
The beam has a reach of up to 500 metres (550 yards), much further than existing non-lethal weapons like rubber bullets.
It can penetrate clothes, suddenly heating up the skin of anyone in its path to 50C.
Oh, good. Harmless. Like pepper spray. And rubber bullets. And tasers (thanks Phydeaux). I feel much better now.
Harmless like tasers. How many dead from them?
Yeah why even bother trying to develop anything non-lethal just teach everyone to sing Kumbaya and hold focus groups to discuss the mobs feelings.
Nice straw man, John. Look, it may in fact be just fine, but anything made by Raytheon I must initially take with a spoonful of salt. If you don’t understand why, refer to the parable of the frog and the scorpion.
My primary concern is that it will be used to disperse peaceful protests, much as pepper spray is used now. I do have a problem with that - you know, first amendment and all.
I’m also skeptical about long range adverse effects of microwave radiation, even if it is millimeter-wave. Right now it’s an unknown.
Don’t wear glasses or contact lenses, either. yep. Cornea damage.
Well, I guess I’ll just have to run a little workshop on how to make cheap, collapsible, lightweight “cube-corner” reflectors. Three sticks and some aluminized mylar, and you’re all set.
Any microwaves they get are reflected directly back at the source.
This should be great for the winter rallys.
My wife was going to go to one today, but it’s too cold to bring the kids. Maybe an occasional blast with one of these would warm the toes.