Directed Energy Weapons

Airborne Laser Lets Rip on First Target

Greg Schnippel — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:56:26 -0800

The Airborne Laser (ABL) was fired from a stationary plane at a target on the ground just a few metres away, marking a milestone for the weapon which planners hope can be used for patrolling the skies, zapping missiles, aircraft or even satellites in low Earth orbit with invisible, ultrapowerful laser beams.

Military Investigates Amnesia Beams

Greg Schnippel — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:07:20 -0700

A team of scientists from the U.S. and China announced that they had found a means of selectively and safely erasing memories in mice, an advance the military is interested in for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and possibly creating an 'amnesia ray' weapon.

High Power Microwave Nearly Operational

Greg Schnippel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:02:19 -0700

The U.S. Army is mounting Joint Silent Guardian non-lethal, directed energy weapons -- or "Pain Rays" with a range of more than 250 meters -- on Ford 550 commercial trucks for crowd control. A lot is still undecided about how the small fleet of vehicle/weapon combinations will be used including whether they will go to urban areas of Iraq, officials say.

Senate Boosts Funding for Laser Weapons

Greg Schnippel — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:39:28 -0700

The Senate has embraced last year's Defense Science Board conclusion that directed-energy weapons -- such as high-, medium- and low-power lasers -- hold great potential and should be developed as soon as possible.

In the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill, which was approved Wednesday, the Senate included additional funds for laser programs and a provision requiring Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to accelerate work that would make directed-energy weapons operational in the near future.

US boasts of laser weapon's 'plausible deniability'

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:12:54 -0700

An airborne laser weapon dubbed the "long-range blowtorch" has the added benefit that the US could convincingly deny any involvement with the destruction it causes, say senior officials of the US Air Force (USAF).

The Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) is to be mounted on a Hercules military transport plane. Boeing announced the first test firing of the laser, from a plane on the ground, earlier this summer.

US Army toyed with telepathic ray gun

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:35:00 -0700

Air Force shops for high-power microwave technologies

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:29:51 -0700

Billions for guns, and one won't kill

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:29:45 -0700

Record Power for Military Laser

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:29:44 -0700

Shooting Pain

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:29:43 -0700