Soon, microwaves that could defuse bombs
April 17th, 2009 - 4:57 pm ICT by ANILondon, Apr 17 (ANI): US researchers are designing a laser-guided microwave blaster to destroy explosives.
The weapon, called the Multimode Directed Energy Armament System, could destroy the electronic fuse of an explosive device or missile, such as a roadside bomb, or immobilise a vehicle by disabling its ignition system, reports New Scientist.
It works by creating a plasma channel that acts as a waveguide for the stream of microwaves, and uses a high-power laser to ionise the air.
The project is the brainchild of the US army’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Centre (ARDEC).
The weapon’s range will depend on the laser-generated channel.
“The concept is solid and the only issues are with engineering - the physics works,” says Carlo Kopp, who researches electromagnetic pulse weapons at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
The army expects to have a prototype weapon working outside the lab by 2011. (ANI)
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Tags: armament research, brainchild, carlo kopp, directed energy, electromagnetic pulse weapons, engineering centre, explosive device, explosives, fuse, microwaves, missile, new scientist, plasma channel, power laser, prototype, roadside bomb, university in melbourne, university in melbourne australia, us army, waveguide