The United States Military has built an aircraft which can emit bursts of microwaves from above, which would knock out every electrically-powered device below it within the scope of its beacon. If the craft (dubbed "CHAMP" by the military, who've always been fond of acronyms, especially aggressive, masculine, scary ones) continued along a particular strategic route, it could destroy major utilities, power centers and cause a halt to almost all of the routine activities and devices upon which we have all come to depend.
The Global Futurist Blog featured some projections regarding the future of war, and the proliferation of microwave weapons was one of the major points stressed. Now we've got a photo of the airborne form. Soon we'll be looking at shoulder-mounted or hand held miniature versions of this de-electrolizer [a clever Lingovation].
Carrying this one step further, if the military is proudly displaying and publicizing this weapon, you may rest assured that what they have under wraps is probably something that either represents a more lethal generation of the same weapon, or something which is tantamount to a cure which is worse than the disease -- perhaps a ground-based weapon to launch a missile at the CHAMP -- or perhaps (here's that feeling of 9/11 conspiratorial paranoia setting in again) strategically located underground bunkers where certain privileged people will find sanctuary while the rest of society above ground turns into a nightmare of anarchy, violence and de-civilization. I know, you've seen movies about things like that.
Here's an article excerpt from the SmartPlanet Newsletter which will shed some further light (a lugubrious pun) on this dark subject:
Meet the missile that wipes out everything electric
Ever wonder what it would be like to go without electricity, apart from the odd five-minute power cut? Ask Boeing— the firm is working on a missile that could completely wipe out all of your electronics.Boeing are developing what is dubbed the Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP) — a missile that slams targets underneath with microwaves which can take out everything electrical, from your coveted iPad to critical city power systems.
The aircraft and defense company recently tested CHAMP at the Utah Test and Training Range in the Western Utah Desert. The first target, a two-story building, was filled with computers. After being hit with a high-powered microwave pulse, every single PC died — as did all the television cameras set up to record the experiment.
Every computer in the building was disrupted and went black.
“This technology marks a new era in modern-day warfare,” said Keith Coleman, CHAMP program manager for Boeing Phantom Works. “In the near future, this technology may be used to render an enemy’s electronic and data systems useless even before the first troops or aircraft arrive.”
The team hopes this kind of missile could be used in warfare not only to disrupt critical electronic systems, but to cause such damage with little or no collateral damage— something which may become a huge leap in modern non-lethal warfare.
Currently, the multi-year project is far from being suitable for military use.
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