"Today we made science fiction science fact."
"We hit every target we wanted to. We prosecuted every one." So says a very happy
Keith Coleman, Boeing's program manager for the CHAMP project. Counter-electronics
High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile
Project is the culmination of decades of work to develop a non-lethal weapon
that defeats targets without collateral damage, sort of like a neutron bomb for
electronics.
From the Boeing website, "On Oct. 16th at 10:32 a.m. MST a
Boeing Phantom Works team along with members from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate team, and Raytheon Ktech, suppliers of the High
Power Microwave source, huddled in a conference room at Hill Air Force Base and
watched the history making test unfold on a television monitor. AFRL Power is cut
to a room of computers after being hit by a high-powered microwave pulse from a
Counter-electronics High-powered Advanced Missile Project. CHAMP approached its
first target and fired a burst of High Power Microwaves at a two story building
built on the test range. Inside rows of personal computers and electrical systems
were turned on to gauge the effects of the powerful radio waves. Seconds later the
PC monitors went dark and cheers erupted in the conference room. CHAMP had successfully
knocked out the computer and electrical systems in the target building. Even the
television cameras set up to record the test were knocked off line without collateral
damage."
OK, here's why I'm not president: I say let's hit the military centers
in Russia, China, Venezuela, Pakistan, Iran, Libya, Hezbollah strongholds, and all
the other non-allies before Congress has a chance to authorize the sale of this
technology to said countries where they would then provide it to third-party terrorists
to use it on us. Just kidding, of course... well, kinda... really, just kidding.
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