New Air Force Missile Turns Out Lights

[frigidmagi]

defense.aol.com

The missile launched from the wing pylon of a B-52 heavy bomber and streaked over the desert of western Utah. At pre-set coordinates, a microwave emitter installed in the winged, jet-propelled cruise missile blasted a target building. But there was no big bang, no billowing clouds of dust and debris. Instead, the building was struck with disruptive, high-frequency microwaves.

The goal of the test on the morning of Oct. 16 was "to render ... electronic and data systems useless," according to Boeing, the lead contractor for the three-year, $40-million Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project, or CHAMP, initiated in 2009.

While the program is led by Boeing the crucial technology comes from a small company called Ktech, which Raytheon bought in June last year. At the Paris Air Show, AOL Defense interviewed Raytheon executive Mike Booen about the company and its capabilities. Basically, Ktech's microwave generators generate an EMP-like field which shuts down electronics.

This did not come out of nowhere. Work began roughly four years ago, an industry source said.

Engineers, researchers and test personnel from Boeing, Raytheon and the Air Force Research Laboratory observed the test flight from a conference room at nearby Hill Air Force Base. A television camera mounted in a room in the unoccupied target building showed rows of desktop computers, their screens on and programs running.

When CHAMP passed overhead and activated its Raytheon-built microwave emitter, the computers went dark -- and, a moment later, so did the camera monitoring the test. "Cheers erupted in the conference room," Boeing spokesman Randy Jackson wrote in a press release published Monday.

"This technology marks a new era in modern-day warfare," Keith Coleman, the CHAMP program manager at Boeing Phantom Works, told Jackson. "In the near future, this technology may be used to render an enemy's electronic and data systems useless even before the first troops or aircraft arrive."

CHAMP's successful first full test marks the culmination of a four-year process of formulating requirements, soliciting bids, selecting contractors and managing technology development and testing. The Air Force's original solicitation called for "a multi-shot and multi-target aerial platform that targets electronic systems."

The microwave weapon's development began shortly after Israel's air strike on suspected Syrian nuclear facilities in late 2007. In that raid, Israel apparently used non-lethal electronic attacks to shut down Syrian air defenses -- a move that could be a model for future surgical strikes. At an off-the-record symposium in Pennsylvania in August, experts from the military, industry and academia plotted ways that microwave and other energy weapons could disable enemy forces, ending conflicts before a lethal shot has been fired.

That's still easier said than done. Work on microwave weapons dates back to the 1970s, according to Robert White from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Early efforts were "dominated by the pursuit for greater and greater power levels," White wrote. Later, the Air Force and industry focused on controlling the microwave pulse, eventually making it possible to aim the beam.

In that way the Air Force "mov[ed] away from the 'flamethrower' mentality," Edl Schamiloglu, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, said at an Air Force conference in July. Instead, the Air Force wanted something akin to an electronics-frying sniper rifle.

CHAMP's precise appearance and capabilities remain a secret, but it's apparent that the missile meets the Air Force's requirement for multiple, controlled shots at multiple small targets. CHAMP reportedly flew for the first time in mid-May without fully activating its emitter. That test, which used the same software as the October test, confirmed that the missile could navigate a complex flight path, selectively turning on and off the microwave.

In the October test, the CHAMP hit seven separate target buildings, Boeing's Jackson wrote.

It's not clear if or when the Air Force might launch a full-scale acquisition of a CHAMP-style weapon. Boeing is optimistic. "We know this has some capabilities and some impact," said James Dodd, vice president of Advanced Boeing Military Aircraft, a division of Phantom Works. "We're really trying to engage the customer to see if there is a way we can actually get this fielded and implemented sooner than later."

Still early days but it's a good start.

[SirNitram]

If this pans out, damn.. Take out a military HQ and not the Hospital within the blast radius of a conventional EMP? Handy.

[Batman]

Heck a conventional EMP means you're already using nukes. Even if there is collateral damgae it's still way better than the alternative, and at least so far, the thing seems to be pretty precise (unsurprisingly).

[Charon]

So if this is a missile, and it doesn't directly strike the building and explode, where does it go? Do we have to have someone run after this thing and get it back?

[Batman]

Or it could mereley self-destruct as has been pretty much the default for every self-guided-but-missed missile since whenever we managed to build them? And if it's a drone, it would presumaby be either programmed or remotely guided to go home?

[rhoenix]

Well, the fact that infrared is used suggests (though not conclusively) that the delivery method isn't necessarily consumed by the creation of such. If this is the case, then this could very well develop into a more portable and refined weapon, armed on drones at first and then seen elsewhere.

[Batman]

Well, the fact that infrared is used suggests (though not conclusively) that the delivery method isn't necessarily consumed by the creation of such. If this is the case, then this could very well develop into a more portable and refined weapon, armed on drones at first and then seen elsewhere.

I have no clue what you're trying to say there.

[rhoenix]

Well, the fact that infrared is used suggests (though not conclusively) that the delivery method isn't necessarily consumed by the creation of such. If this is the case, then this could very well develop into a more portable and refined weapon, armed on drones at first and then seen elsewhere.

I have no clue what you're trying to say there.

That I won't be at all surprised if we hear about a drone that is specialized to use this artificial EMP effect multiple times before having to return to base.

[Josh]

Combat lasers, railguns, power-killing drones (and drones in general.)

I know I beat on the whole 'we live in science fiction' drum, but man some of the stuff we can do now makes high tech fantasies like The Terminator look downright primitive.

[Batman]

I give you 'Perry Rhodan', early 25th century in-universe. Warships that rival ISDs in firepower and FTL speed and make them look like they're standing still STL...and a main computer that spits out its results on punched tape. Or how about early Asimov? FTL, artificial gravity (on occasion), shields, ray guns...and people using slide rules to calculate a course. Sometimes, some areas of technological development are so far ahead of what people writing SciFi could imagine when writing it it's amazing.

[Josh]

I give you 'Perry Rhodan', early 25th century in-universe. Warships that rival ISDs in firepower and FTL speed and make them look like they're standing still STL...and a main computer that spits out its results on punched tape. Or how about early Asimov? FTL, artificial gravity (on occasion), shields, ray guns...and people using slide rules to calculate a course. Sometimes, some areas of technological development are so far ahead of what people writing SciFi could imagine when writing it it's amazing.

Heinlein also had sliderules in the same area.

I can't think of anybody in the Golden Age of Science Fiction that came anywhere near what computers would develop into. I was watching a Tom Baker ep of Doctor Who a while back and it was hilarious how some dudes overtaxed their computer by going too fast.

Specifically with the Terminator reference I was thinking about how the HKs are pretty much a joke compared to our actual modern-day drone capability. We might not have the handy dandy pulse weaponry, but that whole 'leisurely saunter above the battlefield' routine that the HKs do just wouldn't cut it.

[Norseman]

The most amusing thing about a lot of classical science fiction is how they *utterly* fail to predict the changes in how men and women relate to one another. Indeed even massively futuristic stuff like Bellamy's Looking Backwards had this huge blindspot when it came to social norms.

[Batman]

In all fairness I very much suspect that was less the effect of the makers thinking that'd be the best drones could do in the none-too-distant future and more of 'wouldn't it look visually impressive if we had them do that'. I mean we're talking about the same people that gave us the 40 watts phased plasma rifle.

[Josh]

The most amusing thing about a lot of classical science fiction is how they *utterly* fail to predict the changes in how men and women relate to one another. Indeed even massively futuristic stuff like Bellamy's Looking Backwards had this huge blindspot when it came to social norms.

I'd bet you that writers heading in that direction had some serious fights with editors. Heinlein did play with different family structures, and he also had lots of fights with his editors.

In all fairness I very much suspect that was less the effect of the makers thinking that'd be the best drones could do in the none-too-distant future and more of 'wouldn't it look visually impressive if we had them do that'. I mean we're talking about the same people that gave us the 40 watts phased plasma rifle.

Oh that last one is entirely plausible- it's what gave us the Imperial Guard lasgun.

[Batman]

Frankly if late Heinlein is any indication I'm glad the editors won most of the time. And I'm sorry did you just call a 40W plasma rifle plausible? I'm just asking because that's like, about a 15th of the time-averaged muzzle energy of a 9mm pistol?

[Norseman]

Frankly if late Heinlein is any indication I'm glad the editors won most of the time. And I'm sorry did you just call a 40W plasma rifle plausible? I'm just asking because that's like, about a 15th of the time-averaged muzzle energy of a 9mm pistol?

There's a reason the lasgun is nicknamed the flashlight.

[Josh]

Frankly if late Heinlein is any indication I'm glad the editors won most of the time. And I'm sorry did you just call a 40W plasma rifle plausible? I'm just asking because that's like, about a 15th of the time-averaged muzzle energy of a 9mm pistol?

Heinlein did have a brain tumor toward the end of his life, but I do believe the incest thing can't be written off to that given his otherwise libertine tendencies that seeped through in his works. So yeah, it was a case of the editors sparing us. But I'd expect that given the mores of the time most writers had similar issues to contend with in envisioning new relationship dynamics.

Norseman explained the lasgun, but I'll add this: a lasgun with a laser pointer is referred to as 'twin-linked.'

[Batman]

I'm sorry, are we talking about the same WH40K that is generally agreed to be able to go toe-to-toe (at least firepower-wise) with Wars?
It's just that 40 watts isn't all that impressive for a lightbulb, and for a DEW, well...

[Josh]

I'm sorry, are we talking about the same WH40K that is generally agreed to be able to go toe-to-toe (at least firepower-wise) with Wars?
It's just that 40 watts isn't all that impressive for a lightbulb, and for a DEW, well...

That's where you run into the difference between the fluff and the game mechanics. In-game the lasgun is pretty pathetic and the idea is that if you fire a million shots and hit with like a thousand and maybe a half dozen will actually do more than annoy the squad of Chaos terminators coming at you.

I saw that in action watching a game last month, it was pretty sad. Dude lost like three terminators all game long and one of them was from an errant explosion.

[Batman]

Wow. And I thought BattleTech game mechanics were pathetic. But seriously-40 watts?

[Josh]

Wow. And I thought BattleTech game mechanics were pathetic. But seriously-40 watts?

Okay well to touch that up a bit before the Encyclopedia Daemonica (Cyncat) comes in here to give the much more detailed and accurate explanation of game mechanics, it's not so much that the weapons themselves are utterly ineffectual as the targets they're being used on are that heavily armored. Lasguns hitting unarmored flesh will proper fuck somebody up, but unfortunately for the poor bloody Guard, everything they face in the game is armored all to fuck. Or in the case of the Orks they're the Mighty Mushroom Warriors with massive systemic redundancy and the ability to keep going on for a while even in the face of even lethal damage.

The point of the Guard lasgun is that it is reasonably effective in massed fire and the weapon itself is like the AK-47 of the 40K universe. It's durable as shit, easily operated by even the most backwater jungle rat, and the power packs can be recharged by anything from plugging them into wall outlets to tossing them in the campfire.

However it does mean that whenever they run up against the heavy hitters Guardsmen tend to die. A lot. It's like that game I was talking about, afterward I was all "Well, the Guard lost a company trying to take that little speck of land, they'll just send a battalion or three in the next wave."