US military unveils heat-ray gun:

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Trent Hey, why not alternate with water cannons – give half the crowd a god damn heart attack – that should stop anyone opposing the Government! They say it's for using against armed enemies – but that's bull-shit – you don't take a non-lethal weapon to war with you - unless you want a rocket propelled grenade up the arse No, this is for the politicians who see a rising dissent on the horizon and it scares the shit out of them This thing hits from a long way away – the long arm of the law – for keeping the riff raff at bay. If you ask me, it's a coward's weapon. It's also pretty dumb when you really stop and think about it. If they really took it into a war zone, it wouldn't last 2minutes and domestically, it would provoke rioting rather than quell it.

I am forced to agree with that whole post.


When put in the context of "battlefield weapon", I see this invention, and the philosophy behind it in a whole different light.

Quote by: Trent so it’s a ruse – or they are idiots

Just guessing here, but I'm guessing the latter.

[rmnunez]

They say it's for using against armed enemies –but that's bull-shit– you don't take a non-lethal weapon to war with you -unless you want a rocket propelled grenade up the arse

Wouldn't a rocked propelled grenade launching enemy be armed?

500 metres are 1,640 feet, is this within good range of a rocket propelled grenade?

If the weapon were deployed in an urbanized area, downtown near the financial district, what are the chances the surging crowd of rioting civilians would include some with grenade launchers?

[rmnunez]

"Ручной противотанковый гранатомёт, РПГ" and is translated into English as "handheld anti-tank rocket-launcher". The commonly used term "rocket-propelled grenade" is a mistranslation. An RPG is an inexpensive way to deliver an explosive payload a distance of 100 yards with moderate accuracy. Substantially more expensive, wire-guided rockets are used when accuracy is important. These rockets trail a thin wire behind them during firing and can be steered by the operator while in flight. Because of the inherent inaccuracy of the RPG, the operator must fire relatively close to the intended target, increasing the chances of being spotted and suppressed. Most modern armies deploy anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) as their primary infantry anti-tank weapon, but the RPG can still be effectively employed against tanks under certain tactical conditions, especially urban warfare, where they are favored by low-tech armies. They are most effective when used in restricted terrain as the availability of cover and concealment can make it difficult for the intended target to spot the RPG operator. When deployed against personnel, the warhead can be aimed at a solid surface to detonate, popular choices being trees or buildings. Another option is an indirect method of firing the warhead over the intended target area at ranges of 800-1000 m where the warhead would detonate automatically. More skilled shooters can use RPG self-destruct feature to make it explode over the enemy at closer range. Rocket propelled grenade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The RPG's self-destruct feature is reported elsewhere at 500 m.

Although they can be used against hovering helicopters, they should not be confused with anti-aircraft shoulder fired surface-to-air missile systems such as the Stinger or SA-7 'Grail'. Furthermore, firing at high elevations pose a danger to the user, because the backblast from the firing reflects off of ground. In Somalia some of the militia members welded a steel plate in the exhaust end of RPGs tube to reflect pressure away from shooter when shooting at high elevations (at US helicopters). Rocket propelled grenade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The weapon’s projectile.

An investment opportunity?

The Ruchnoy Protivotankoviy Granatomet line of weapons continues to dominate this market. Under the auspices of the Rosoboronexport organization, the combined output of Russian defense contractors will account for over 68% of man-portable anti-armor and bunker buster weapon production, worth over 51% of the total market value, through 2014. The most significant production will involve the Russian RPG-26 and RPG-27. Forecast International Weapons Group expects the market will produce nearly 1.9 million weapons, worth $5.33 billion, through 2014. "Combined production of these two weapons will account for over 54% of all new production, worth over 31% of the total market value, through 2014." Nevertheless, the ubiquitous RPG-7 remains the man-portable anti-armor weapon of choice worldwide. Through 2014, the RPG-7 (and the follow-on RPG-16) ¿as well as various licensed and unlicensed copies ¿will account for nearly 8% of all new production, worth 5.63% of the total market value. "The combined output of the leading European players will provide only 13.96% of all man-portable anti-armor and bunker buster weapons production. However, these high-end European products will account for over 33% of the total market value through 2014." Talley Defense Systems, the sole US player to have any discernable impact on this market, will account for 5.14% of all production, worth 5.26% of the total market value, through 2014. Lockwood also notes that, unlike many other defense markets, the People's Republic of China has virtually no impact on the international market for man-portable anti-armor and bunker buster weapons. The Chinese State Arsenals system, under the auspices of the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), will contribute less than 1% of total production and market value with its Type 69 line.Russian RPG Line Dominates World Market For Man Portable Anti Armor Weapons

[Technosoul]

I can see where the weapon can be used in jungle environments, if they are behind bushes you could zap the area and when they all scatter from out of the bushes then you could use real bullets to pick them off.

So you could scan an area with the heat ray to find out if anyone is hiding behind bushes before marching in that direction.

Unless they knew about the weapon and took along shields to hide behind.

Perhaps a more advanced version could "microwave" the enemy. Yipes, cause them to explode from within by bowling their blood. Yuk.

What ever happend to good old sword fighting?

[Praxius]

Quote by: Technosoul What ever happend to good old sword fighting?

Gone the way of the Thumb Wrestling.

[namguy69]

Quote by: Praxius BBC NEWS | Americas | US military unveils heat-ray gun he prototype weapon - called Silent Guardian - was demonstrated at the Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. HEAT-RAY WEAPON US troops scatter after begin hit by the beam Directs a high energy beam Range of up to 500m Penetrates clothes but not walls Heats but reportedly does not harm

Well this seems like an actually good idea for a defensive weapon.[/quote]


They now have a " neutron " bomb, this bomb, as the atomic bomb, is detonated 1500 - 1700 ft. above the intended area. It kills everything living, everything, but doesn't destroy houses or buildings and after a few hours the bombed area is totally safe to be in. Not exactly what your referring to but quite effective.

[Trent]

Quote by: Milton Bradley When put in the context of "battlefield weapon", I see this invention, and the philosophy behind it in a whole different light.

They're probably trying to put the wind up the hundreds of thousands of Americans that are going to be marching on Washington tomorrow morning - and any who are thinking about joining them over the coming weeks.

Publicity for this contraption reads more like a threat than anything. Just more fear propaganda

And forget the RPG
If the Germans had driven this thing into Stanlingrad sixty whatever years ago, the Russians would still be telling jokes about it now over their vodka and having a bloody good laugh - I'm sure of it

[Praxius]

Yeah, just walk up to it wrapped up in a bunch of chickens and hotdogs..... let the heat hit that first...... and in the end, you got a meal after the battle.

[ByaKya]

the non-lethal weapon is useless anywhere outside the US.
one bullet ruins the entire system.

[rmnunez]

one bullet ruins the entire system

Again, Bya, how good a shot are you at 20 times the distance normally provided in a firing range? Do you realize how hard it is to hit a target, even one this size ideally sitting still, over 5 football fields away?

[G. Adams]

Quote by: rmnunez Again, Bya, how good a shot are you at 20 times the distance normally provided in a firing range? Do you realize how hard it is to hit a target, even one this size ideally sitting still, over 5 football fields away?

I can and have hit much smaller targets at that distance. Not moving ones I'll grant you. It takes practice of course, but if your a soldier you should have had enough practice. As Bya said, just one bullet would stop it, what if someone was laying down some fire from a gimpy or minimi? Or heavier? It wouldn't take long before one round struck it and rendered it near useless. This is for unarmed opponents.

[Zeebadee]

The dish is merely a focusing tool on this weapon. Depending on the operating frequency of the device, small bullet holes may or may not have any effect on it's efficiency. Like the grill on a microwave oven, radiation leakage doesn't occur if the holes aren't big enough. To have any practical effect on this weapon, I think you'd have to significantly mis-shape the dish.

The electronics and power generator are another story. A single bullet may be enough there to shut this thing down.

[ByaKya]

Its a dish, now just for comparison reasons, how well does your dish operate when it rains?
granted this wont be as bad, but now take this a few levels higher and say a sniper bullet hit it. or better yet, an armor peircing bullet, insurgents in iraq have both.

and rmnunez, what is stopping ANYONE from getting CLOSER to this thing? are the people behind some kind of razor wire in the middle of baghdad?
people can come at this weapon from ANYSIDE, close range and disable it.
what an odd question.

"dude how are you going to blow it up, its range is way too far!"

wow, i wonder how helicopters are shot out of the sky? their range is too far!
i wonder how tanks are blown up? their range is too far!
ROFL.

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: ByaKya Its a dish, now just for comparison reasons, how well does your dish operate when it rains? granted this wont be as bad, but now take this a few levels higher and say a sniper bullet hit it. or better yet, an armor peircing bullet, insurgents in iraq have both.

Different frequency ranges for this and TV dishes. Think of the dish as a mirror. Put a small (.223) hole in it and how much is the overall reflection affected?

[rmnunez]

what is stopping ANYONE from getting CLOSER to this thing? are the people behind some kind of razor wire in the middle of baghdad?

The heat wave is going to keep them 500 meters back, you turn this thing on and drive it towards them, as their skin temperature rises they will turn and flee, try and shelter themselves behind something. I thought "gimpy" was someone with a limp and have no idea what a "minimy" could be.

[ByaKya]

Quote by: rmnunez The heat wave is going to keep them 500 meters back, you turn this thing on and drive it towards them, as their skin temperature rises they will turn and flee, try and shelter themselves behind something. I thought "gimpy" was someone with a limp and have no idea what a "minimy" could be.

youre missing the point.
If an ABRAMS M1 TANK can be disabled and destroyed, so can this !
do you understand?
and once again, one bullet ruins the system, bullet from a sniper or a hand gun. the system doesnt have 360 degree coverage all the time, nor can it aim up towards buildings, in fact if it could, it would make it weaker, wait till the system aims up, then charge.
the system is flawed in actual military combat to a very serious extent. and in iraq its just a target.

[ByaKya]

Quote by: Zeebadee Different frequency ranges for this and TV dishes. Think of the dish as a mirror. Put a small (.223) hole in it and how much is the overall reflection affected?

the impact of the bullet does even more damage then the actual phsyical damage left.
we need not even discuss the devastating damage an armor peircing round would do to this system.
so again, im not seeing how this is just a waste of money if deployed to a warzone or even iraq

[Praxius]

On a different subject, they claim it's not lethal, but I bet in about 10 years of using this, we'll find out it produces cancer or something else, and can't be used.

[ByaKya]

Quote by: Praxius On a different subject, they claim it's not lethal, but I bet in about 10 years of using this, we'll find out it produces cancer or something else, and can't be used.

they havent said what would happen if someone was knocked out and hence unable to move away from the ray while its pointed at them.
or if its kept on with the person unable to move?
imagine the news when they show someguy screaming while being burned alive by this. no jury on the planet wouldnt find in the victims favor.

[G. Adams]

Quote by: rmnunez The heat wave is going to keep them 500 meters back, you turn this thing on and drive it towards them, as their skin temperature rises they will turn and flee, try and shelter themselves behind something. I thought "gimpy" was someone with a limp and have no idea what a "minimy" could be.

Gimpy is the GPMG, General Purpose Machine Gun, and a minimi is a more modern American machine gun. They are basically the patrol's support guns, and put out 1000+rounds a minute. They'll put the neccesary dent in the dish is what I was saying.