Military Develops Non-Lethal Ray Gun

New Weapon Makes Human Targets Feel Like They're About To Catch Fire

(AP)  The military's new weapon is a ray gun that shoots a beam that makes people feel as if they will catch fire.

The technology is supposed to be harmless — a non-lethal way to get enemies to drop their weapons. Military officials say it could save the lives of innocent civilians and service members in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

The weapon is not expected to go into production until at least 2010, but all branches of the military have expressed interest in it, officials said.

During the first media demonstration of the weapon Wednesday, airmen fired beams from a large dish antenna mounted atop a Humvee at people pretending to be rioters and acting out other scenarios U.S. troops might encounter.

The crew fired beams from more than 500 yards away, nearly 17 times the range of existing non-lethal weapons, such as rubber bullets.

While the sudden, 130-degree Fahrenheit heat was not painful, it was intense enough to make participants think their clothes were about to ignite.

"This is one of the key technologies for the future," said Marine Col. Kirk Hymes, director of the non-lethal weapons program which helped develop the new weapon. "Non-lethal weapons are important for the escalation of force, especially in the environments our forces are operating in."

The system uses millimeter waves, which can penetrate only 1/64th of an inch of skin, just enough to cause discomfort. By comparison, common kitchen microwaves penetrate several inches of skin.

The millimeter waves cannot go through walls or glass, but they can penetrate most clothing, officials said.

Two airmen and 10 reporters volunteered to be shot with the beams, which easily penetrated various layers of winter clothing.

The system was developed by the military, but the two devices currently being evaluated were built by defense contractor Raytheon.

Airman Blaine Pernell, 22, said he could have used the system during his four tours in Iraq, where he manned watchtowers around a base near Kirkuk. He said Iraqis constantly pulled up and faked car problems so they could scout out U.S. forces.

"All we could do is watch them," he said. But if they had the ray gun, troops "could have dispersed them."

[agnim]

All this wicked waste of time, energy and resources by devilish mind on DESTRUCTIVE ENDS!

Don't Americans realize that being always in a war mode is the cause of our national paranoia?

Being always in a war mode plants in the mind the FALSE notion that others are just as devilish and destructive, and are after us. LOL

Thank the stars that the rest of the world is a more sane place. LOL

[inventagod]

Yeah, RIGHT!
Safe as can be, I'll wager....
NOT.

[prvideo]

Mr. "Devilish" is mistaken. Every country looks out for its interests. Non-lethal weaponry is a lot better than killing someone, don't you think?

[sajawebb]

We'll end up like the Israeli's...always looking over our shoulders. Hyper security begets ultra hyper security. It's a never ending battle to become more and more secure. Cameras everywhere, scanners everywhere, security systems to monitor security systems. Our tax dollars could and should be used for education , health care, etc. The war has cost up half a trillion dollars, how much is that per US citizen?

[rafterman1]

Aw man, a total ripoff. According to the headline, I thought it was handheld, not a big-a$$ truck mounted thing. Now a handheld ray gun would be cool.

[neverhood311]

I think this new technology is an excellent idea. No one likes to kill people, yet the insurgents in Iraq must be stopped. We can suppress the mindless bloodshed and still make Iraq a free democracy.

[nynative1340]

There is a hand-held version. Not as powerful as the vehicle-mounted one, but effective enough to do the job.

[feelfree1]

Re: "New Weapon Makes Human Targets Feel Like They're About To Catch Fire"

That sounds real fine. Before we go roast Iraqis with this thing though, maybe we could rent a private hit-squad or 2 from Blackwater USA or Wackenhut, and they can test this new device out for us, on peaceful demonstrators?

[feelfree1]

Here is a related story:

"Say Hello to the Goodbye Weapon"

www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72134-0.html?tw=rss.index

Looks like CBS is about 6-7 years late on this story. Does our media really need to be invited before they bother to investigate something this contraversial?

www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/v-mads.htm

This high-dollar mobile torture system looks like an easy target for an RPG round.

[agnimsajacka]

what kind of f'in name is agnim anyways? are you from north korea?.....a$$.

[agnimsajacka]

agnim, did you grow up with two mommies? or were you raised by communists?...a$$.

[thomderr]

Scotty, set phasers to "uncomfortable!"

[chipper777]

All this means is that if the enemy wears cammy uniforms they will be invisible to this ray. It won't see them. Mounted on a truck might make it useful to hunt deer, rabbits, or ducks & geese in the air on their lunch hours. Could call it Zapaduck or zappaman. Also they could use it to disinfect their salads in the mess hall to avoid ecoli, but get rayoli cancer instead.

[olebd]

This is like burning ants on the sidewalk with a magnifying glass.

[bluestardad]

This is for Civilian Crowd Control. Watch OUt!

[erics1kiddo]

nonsense. Nothing but nonsense.Some folks in this world live daily in the heat. At it Highest temperature last summer...do you remember how hot our troops in Iraq were....on a daily basis!!!!! Maybe this 'toy' would work on folks whose skin is not already baked daily by the sun.......do we have an enemy in Iceland? OOOOOH lets see...temp outside is easily 120....in the f~~~desert DAILY, So ya'll go zap em' and then they will laugh and shoot you.

[elgraz]

Those hit by the ray gun will be better equipped to lite up a cigar.

[elgraz]

Oh well, time to go to work.

[kaliveotin]

Non-lethal??? Right. The public version, maybe.
Soon they'l be using it on american protesters. We won't see the real weapon until protestors become seen as dangerous again, as they were before Kent State. At that time the government will bring out the more serious secret version.

[bluestardad]

Tin Soldiers and Nixon Coming

[rf35]

I've heard of this thing, but the article I read last year said it felt like your skin was actually on fire. Painful even for desert folks. Maybe this was a toned-down version so the volunteers wouldn't be hurt too bad. Ratchet up the power or move closer than 500 yards and it'll probably hurt more. Don't worry Kaliveotin, I'm sure there's a secret microwave version that cooks you from the inside.

[mitch0927]

Wonder what happens if they fille their pockets up with some Orville Redenbocker?

[mnelsonix]

I can't wait for the consumer version. I'll use at the movies when that jackass in front of me answers his cell phone...or on those kids that take twelve minutes to use a crosswalk...or the neighbors dog when he's about to leave a biscuit on my lawn. Heck, there are a million and one uses for this!

[olebd]

I hope this won't contribute to global warming :)

[olebd]

It slices, it dices, it feel better than a hug from mom!

[jimibear]

"Scotty, set phasers to "uncomfortable!"
Posted by thomderr at 01:02 AM : Jan 25, 2007
+ report this comment"


Hee hee hee.

[agnim]

"We'll end up like the Israeli's...always looking over our shoulders.

Posted by sajawebb at 06:59 PM : Jan 24, 2007"
Actually we are like the insane Israelis already.

The whole country is paranoid. That is why it was so easy for a certified idiot to be the so-called 'leader' of 300m inhabitants: Paranoid Americans are easily led mislead into the abyss by means of fear-mongering. LOL

And yes, those weapons will most certainly be used on Americans, and frequently as is done with the tazers now!

These guns makes it easier for our government thugs to TORTURE FELLOW AMERICANS!

[olebd]

At least for now because it's so freakin' big, you will have ample warning and a better chance of getting away from it before it is deployed on you.

[lochlan-2009]

Another scientist collects his millions at the cost of enslaving the rest of us just a little bit more. I'm quite afraid of the government of the future, soon we'll be fried just for thinking the wrong way.

[cantshutup]

wonder how long till they decide to use it on us???

[Jasonian18]

Well you can blame your democrats if they do because the democrats are the ones pushing for government spending.. not republicans so you guys want more democratic control fine enjoy being shot by the weapons of your own demise ... the new Ray Gun.

[agnimsajacka]

Why is everyone worried about the government using this weapon against American citizens? If the all the U.S. government wanted to do is enslave the entire human race, the arsenal is already big enough. Let's put aside our science fiction novels for a second and look at the facts: we're fighting a war where the words "enemy" and "combatants" are not always clearly defined, so non-lethal weapons are necessary. And Agnim.....you are seriously an idiot. Stop breathing.

[agnimsajacka]

agnim, would you please just shut the f up? i hope someone uses that ray on your mouth. get out of america. if you want a government that throws flowers at you instead of tear gas, go to france you pansy.

[agnimsajacka]

Besides, if you get hit with this delicious ray, you were probably somewhere you shouldn't have been. Would you rather get hit with a steaming hot round from a rifle, or a little heat ray that doesn't harm you? It sounds to me like you were beat up in high school a few too many times and now your all kinds of pissed off at everyone. Take that commie.

[mrvolleyba11]

finally somebody else commenting on the IDIOT "Agnim"!!!

I don't know if this guy is an angry high school drop out who blames Bush for all the worlds problems or just a kid on mommy and daddy's computer (while ditching school)!!!

...Agmin is a true idiot no matter what the case and is constantly making the stupidest comments here everyday; but on a good note Agnim is the perfect poster child for sterilization, birth control or just saying no to drugs during pregnacy!

[si_guy_83]

As one of those people that volunteered in this event yesterday and the day before, I can tell you that this WILL work. I've been deployed 5 times and could have used this weapon plenty of times. As far as the way it feels, the best way I can describe it is it's like heating your oven up all the way and standing in front of it while it's opened. We felt it at 50% then at 100%, and I can tell you that there isn't a human in this world that could just stand there and take it when it's up that high...

[agnimsajacka]

agnim, your such a ******.

[agnim]

"Well you can blame your democrats if they do because the democrats are the ones pushing for government spending.. not republicans

Posted by jason_plo at 04:47 PM : Jan 25, 2007"

Who is spending America's wealth like dollar bills grow on trees, and ARE ALWAYS running up the government deficit to historical levels?

This administration and the Reagan administrations have been the biggest spenders (especially on the military) of Americans' money!
And they have left HUGE DEFICITS to prove their big spending!


Are you one child left behind?
Has to be be the case why you so easily swallow lies and propaganda about 'liberal spending'!