US military unveils heat-ray gun:

[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[/quote]

Well this seems like an actually good idea for a defensive weapon.

[Praxius]

Added:

Jebus, I'm having a bad day with the titles.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Praxius Well this seems like an actually good idea for a defensive weapon.

None of it is a good idea when you realize whos hands those weapons are in.


I suspect it won't be long until they turn them on civilians, because after all, "they don't harm you", right.

[Matt W]

Quote by: Praxius Added: Jebus, I'm having a bad day with the titles.

Dealt with.

[G. Adams]

Quote by: Milton Bradley None of it is a good idea when you realize whos hands those weapons are in. I suspect it won't be long until they turn them on civilians, because after all, "they don't harm you", right.

That's my central worry. How many none lethal weapons do they have currently deployed in Iraq?

These weapons are primarily to deal with domestic civilians where deaths are politically damaging, as opposed to abroad where no one gives a crap.

[Praxius]

Yeah, but do you think the US will be the only one's with this technology in time?

The big question is, what will other's do to modify this tech and to what degree?

In my opinion, I'd rather them develop something like this, that's not lethal, then making another Nuclear/Biological Style weapon.

Then again, it could also be the start of Laser Tag wars......

*ZAP*

OW!!! Damn.... nice shot..... see ya tomorrow.

No more dead soldiers.... just soldiers in irritating pain every day.

[InTheFlesh?]

Quote by: Praxius Penetrates clothes but not walls Heats but reportedly does not harm

Err yeah a great weapon;

"Damn here come the bad guys"

ZAAAAAAAPPPPP

"Wow, that showed them, that's the end of their snowmen"

"Grrrr damn Americans have ruined Christmas AGAIN"

Bad things to come, we should spend less money on weapon development and more on space exploration, THAT is the way forward.

[Praxius]

Quote by: InTheFlesh? Bad things to come, we should spend less money on weapon development and more on space exploration, THAT is the way forward.

So the rich can take off and live on a new clean planet, while the rest of us clean up their mess?

[G. Adams]

Quote by: InTheFlesh? Bad things to come, we should spend less money on weapon development and more on space exploration, THAT is the way forward.

Why should we spend our money on space travel? Why don't you invest in such exploration? If it's worthwhile, you could make a fortune. But I don't see why your belief, even if it were that of the majority, that space exploration is the way forward should place a demand on me to pay for it.

Quote by: Praxius Yeah, but do you think the US will be the only one's with this technology in time? The big question is, what will other's do to modify this tech and to what degree? In my opinion, I'd rather them develop something like this, that's not lethal, then making another Nuclear/Biological Style weapon.

Oh no, I'm sure the US will sell this tech in time if others don't develop it first. However, I'd expect them to use for similar purposes - crowd control.

It'll get modded to be made smaller, and used for interrogation/torture, depending on your idea of torture. I'm sure you could also up the power and just cook swathes of enemies/civilians with it if they can't move fast enough. Like, for example, in a crowd. No bullets, more efficient, less gore than using nerve gas on them. Perfect weapon for tyrants.

The only benefit I see on this over bio weapons is that the damage would be easier to limit; no risk of damage spreading beyond controlled area. I don't see this being used against actual enemy military succesfully, it would be easy to damage it enough to render it worthless. Against an unarmed opponent however, difficult. Mind you some good BB's and a slingshot might crack that dish, or some rocks and a good throwing arm.

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: G. Adams No bullets, more efficient, less gore than using nerve gas on them. Perfect weapon for tyrants.

I agree. It won't be long before this weapon is used against terrorists and enemy combatants. You know, those people that protest outside their assigned free speech zone, people wearing T-shirts with the wrong message on them, etc. Another step along the path to total government control.

[rmnunez]

Sounds like something that could be useful both domestically and in Baghdad.

That's my central worry. How many non lethal weapons do they have currently deployed in Iraq?

I gather this is “breakthrough technology”, the “Silent Guardian” mentioned in the item is said to be a “prototype”, I'd expect its a one-of-a-kind, maybe they made two or three. Obviously there are applications for the Iraqi scenario, I'd hope they'd send some of these to the "front".

I wonder whether it could be mounted on a helicopter.

I suspect it won't be long until they turn them on civilians, because after all, "they don't harm you", right.

It was tested on a “civilian”, who reported it felt like a “blast from an oven”. It could be used against unarmed civilians to move a crowd. Blast away and people will instinctively shield themselves, if it goes through glass I’d not advise using it in malls and commercial areas with many shopfronts, what catches fire at 50 degrees?

These weapons are primarily to deal with domestic civilians where deaths are politically damaging, as opposed to abroad where no one gives a crap.

Unpremised characterization and unsubstantiated speculation.

If the thing is effective for crowd control, do you think Sweden would reject the law-enforcement version? I'm sure Israel would like a few and put them to good use in clearing urban areas.

Yeah, but do you think the US will be the only one's with this technology in time?

I doubt anyone else has one, as noted, its "breakthrough technology". But if other countries had the same sort of weapons in their arsenals it shouldn’t make much of a difference, the weapon is clearly designed to disarm and chase away people.

The big question is, what will other's do to modify this tech and to what degree?

I'd improve its mobility, try for portability, miniaturize the thing, triple the power of the beam and focus it to the size of a dime.

It'll get modded to be made smaller, and used for interrogation/torture, depending on your idea of torture.

There’s an interesting idea, how long do you think a man can endure searing heat all over his skin before confessing?

I'm sure you could also up the power and just cook swathes of enemies/civilians with it if they can't move fast enough.

No, its a non-lethal weapon, "cooking" implies the cooked is dead, this doesn't kill. The weapon delivers a severe burning sensation through clothes to the skin's surface, internal organs are fine, a journalist volunteered to test it, he didn't die.

Like, for example, in a crowd. No bullets, more efficient, less gore than using nerve gas on them. Perfect weapon for tyrants.

Better than that they use scootered machine-gunning ayatollah wannabees from the Vice and Virtue Department.

The only benefit I see on this over bio weapons is that the damage would be easier to limit; no risk of damage spreading beyond controlled area.

I hadn’t thought of this, quite true.

I don't see this being used against actual enemy military succesfully, it would be easy to damage it enough to render it worthless.

The military guy said it could be used to disarm an enemy at 500 meters, unless the enemy has a better range this is a great way to push them back. I could see it used in any sort of Iranian-style "human wave" troop surge.

It seems to be pretty mobile, mounted on a hummvee like that, also looks fairly innocuous, I’d figure it was some sort of communications device, looks like a satellite reception dish to me. The beam’s invisibility is dubious in a military setting since I’d expect vegetation would wither in its path, how fast does the beam advance?

Against an unarmed opponent however, difficult. Mind you some good BB's and a slingshot might crack that dish, or some rocks and a good throwing arm.

The thing has a 500 meter range, that’s a long shot with a slingshot, it looks like metal, you think the dish is porcelain?

Another step along the path to total government control.

So Bush can keep things under control and assure his re-election

[Technosoul]

Heat ray gun is a bad idea, but too late, you cannot put a scambled egg back in the eggshell.

Can they invent a way to make the ray hotter, and more deadly? Can it be used for other targets rather then humans?

If it goes through clothing without causing the cloths to catch on fire then it must be something like a sun ray,

Now what if a girl is sunbathing with her top unloose laying face down to hide her boobs and you zap her butt, would she jump up and expose her self? Just asking, you know, to see if it could be marketed.

Will they use it on protest groups at the next Republican convention?

Can mailmen use it on mean dogs without killing the dog, or would tiny animals and birds die?

Might come in handy at the race track to make sure the horse you bet on moves fast enough to win, would that work? Just asking, for marketing reasons only.

I do not understand. Why is the military interested in a weapon that does not kill and injure people? Is it just for training purposes when they have mock battles to test their skills? Will it damage the eyeball?

It sound more like a toy then a real weapon.

Well - our tax money at work. About time to pay up again.

[DTB123]

It did say this was a "prototype weapon," meaning that it is under development and that something much different will be the resulting end-product.

You could probably take one of those heat guns fishing, and cook the trout right in the water, then just have your plate ready; along with the HP sauce, instead of your fishing net. Forget the fork though - no one will be watching. One has to do such things in "secret."

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: rmnunez Sounds like something that could be useful both domestically and in Baghdad. I gather this is “breakthrough technology”, the “Silent Guardian” mentioned in the item is said to be a “prototype”, I'd expect its a one-of-a-kind, maybe they made two or three. Obviously there are applications for the Iraqi scenario, I'd hope they'd send some of these to the "front". I wonder whether it could be mounted on a helicopter. It was tested on a “civilian”, who reported it felt like a “blast from an oven”. It could be used against unarmed civilians to move a crowd. Blast away and people will instinctively shield themselves, if it goes through glass I’d not advise using it in malls and commercial areas with many shopfronts, what catches fire at 50 degrees? Unpremised characterization and unsubstantiated speculation. If the thing is effective for crowd control, do you think Sweden would reject the law-enforcement version? I'm sure Israel would like a few and put them to good use in clearing urban areas. I doubt anyone else has one, as noted, its "breakthrough technology". But if other countries had the same sort of weapons in their arsenals it shouldn’t make much of a difference, the weapon is clearly designed to disarm and chase away people. I'd improve its mobility, try for portability, miniaturize the thing, triple the power of the beam and focus it to the size of a dime. There’s an interesting idea, how long do you think a man can endure searing heat all over his skin before confessing? No, its a non-lethal weapon, "cooking" implies the cooked is dead, this doesn't kill. The weapon delivers a severe burning sensation through clothes to the skin's surface, internal organs are fine, a journalist volunteered to test it, he didn't die. Better than that they use scootered machine-gunning ayatollah wannabees from the Vice and Virtue Department. I hadn’t thought of this, quite true. The military guy said it could be used to disarm an enemy at 500 meters, unless the enemy has a better range this is a great way to push them back. I could see it used in any sort of Iranian-style "human wave" troop surge. It seems to be pretty mobile, mounted on a hummvee like that, also looks fairly innocuous, I’d figure it was some sort of communications device, looks like a satellite reception dish to me. The beam’s invisibility is dubious in a military setting since I’d expect vegetation would wither in its path, how fast does the beam advance? The thing has a 500 meter range, that’s a long shot with a slingshot, it looks like metal, you think the dish is porcelain? So Bush can keep things under control and assure his re-election

So, I take it that you'd think it was ok if we put a bunch of these things along our southern border and used them to prevent crossings? We could build a millimeter wave fence and blast illegals.

[rmnunez]

I'm not sure what a "milimeter wave fence" is and how it would blast "illegals", but this "Silent Guardian" doesn't sound useful for chasing down undocumented immigrants crossing the united statian border as they don't do this in large crowds and the weapon is billed for "crowd control". I'd anticipate a negative impact on the Rio Bravo/Grande if masses of these things were lined up along the border and beamed at Mexico.

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: rmnunez I'm not sure what a "milimeter wave fence" is and how it would blast "illegals", but this "Silent Guardian" doesn't sound useful for chasing down undocumented immigrants crossing the united statian border as they don't do this in large crowds and the weapon is billed for "crowd control". I'd anticipate a negative impact on the Rio Bravo/Grande if masses of these things were lined up along the border and beamed at Mexico.

I saw it billed as a millimeter wave weapon, as opposed to a microwave device. All we need to do is build a network of dishes along the border and zap anyone crossing, singly or in groups.

[rmnunez]

I suspect if you had these dishes mounted atop tall flagpoles along the fortified wall they plan to build across the desert. Perhaps the dishes could swivel so you could aim them and be enhanced with cameras, but if an individual approached one of these things armed with the proverbial slingshot, perhaps he could render it useless and even the united statians couldn't get away with frying Mexicans in Mexico. They'd have to set them back 500 metres from the border and then they'd need to be swift and powerful to be effective (I'd expect a burning undocumented would move pretty fast).

[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.

so it’s a ruse – or they are idiots

[G. Adams]

@Rummy

I suggested it's primary use would be to deal with civillians because I suspect it would have limited use on a battlefield. It is bulky and an easy target for a rifle or for an RPG. It would however be an effective weapon upon an unarmed crowd, where the ability to get out of the weapons scatter is difficult. You yourself noted it's law enforcement potential; I'm saying the same thing, I just see it more negatively than you do. Yes, I think Sweden would also use it for law enforcement purposes, why wouldn't I??

Prax asked how will it be modded, and I suggested that it's power could be increased to make it lethal, and should have added broadening the scatter. This why I used the words "cooking" because I think it would be an effective weapon for killing crowds in a more controlled manner than gassing can.

When you say

Better than that they use scootered machine-gunning ayatollah wannabees from the Vice and Virtue Department.

...the only way is that it, and by "It" I am again referred to a more powerful version mentioned above, is more efficient at killing large numbers in a photo friendly way than rifles.

Mobile or not, a rifle will still damage that plate at 500 metres therefore damaging the sensitive alignments neccesary to focus the microwaves. The slingshot was a suggestion in regards to crowd control which occurs on densely pack city streets, making that range much less of a benefit.

[Praxius]

Actually I started to think about this a bit more..... right now, it deters troops and makes you feel hot.... you produce a reflex of getting out of the way of the heat, because of the sensations.......

50c temp is pretty toasty, but in time I could see troops being trained to withstand it, much like they are trained for tear gas.

Unless they improve on it's effectiveness, it could just end up being an annoyance to enemies, rather then a deterant.