The Pentagon's "Ray Gun" - for real

Post by **tnf** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:06 am

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8644374/

"LONDON - Scientists are questioning the safety of a "Star Wars"-style ray gun due to be deployed in Iraq for riot control next year.

The Active Denial System weapon, classified as “less lethal” by the Pentagon, fires a 95-gigahertz microwave beam at rioters to cause heating and intolerable pain in less than five seconds.

The idea is that people caught in the beam will rapidly try to move out of it and therefore break up the crowd."

I can see all sorts of complications with this - but you have to admit, it'd be fun to use it at times....I'd like to put one on my car - I can think of lots of uses.

Post by **ajerara** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:17 am

They're going to microwave people's guts? What happened to tear gas? That is less lethal than tear gas? To cook someone's guts? They expect people not to die from this? I wonder who they've tested it on, that they're so sure it's less lethal.

Post by **Dave** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:19 am

The only problem I see is that if you shoot it into crowds, what happens if there's no room for crowds to disperse?

Post by **Hannibal** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:25 am

The Active Denial System weapon....fires a 95-gigahertz microwave beam at rioters to cause heating and intolerable pain in less than five seconds.

Dunno why exactly, but I laughed my ass off the first time I read that quote.

Post by **tnf** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:30 am

ajerara wrote:They're going to microwave people's guts? What happened to tear gas? That is less lethal than tear gas? To cook someone's guts? They expect people not to die from this? I wonder who they've tested it on, that they're so sure it's less lethal.

It doesn't "cook their guts."

Post by **bitWISE** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:36 am

That's more intense than the time I forgot how to sit down.

Post by **Transient** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:48 am

LOL, look at the 3 holes on the disk. The smallest is for "discomfort", the middle for "painful", and the largest is "gibbed".

Post by **menkent** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:07 am

and microwaves don't really penetrate past the skin. the whole point of them is that they're absorbed very efficiently by water molecules.
if you left it on someone long enough you could certainly melt their skin and eyes pretty effectively, but people will <i>find</i> a way to get out of the beam before then.

Post by **ajerara** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:40 am

it still sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Post by **tnf** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:04 am

Could be, but I'd like to hear what specific, long term aspects of exposing the body to microwave radiation bother you.

Post by **Dave** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:13 am

This is better

Post by **seremtan** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:03 am

so long as they pierce the film lid several times first and don't wear tinfoil they'll be fine

Post by **Ryoki** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:10 am

Oh look, an RPG magnet!

Post by **Nightshade** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:13 am

Dave wrote:The only problem I see is that if you shoot it into crowds, what happens if there's no room for crowds to disperse?

Hilarity ensues.

Post by **o'dium** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:15 am

Fucking hell your dumb abough to get burned if you dont see that thing look at the bloody size of it!

Post by **andyman** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:38 am

ajerara wrote:it still sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Stop being a baby, they have it coming if they cant figure out how to move.

Post by **Transient** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:40 am

riddla wrote:with microwaves i would assume the opposite to be true, as the condensed beam would be more effective

Damn you and your logic! :icon33:

Post by **Survivor** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:42 am

If i'd see that thing i'd step aside take out the old trusty rpg and then step back where i came from.

Post by **Dek** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:53 am

I wonder what if you were holding a frozen pizza..

Post by **werldhed** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 12:05 pm

I'd hate to give linking credit to rep, so I apologize. But...
http://quake3world.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7407

Apparently a handheld version is on its way.

Post by **eepberries** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:55 pm

Don't microwaves cause like, cancer? :icon27:

Post by **Dr.FrasierCrane** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:58 pm

Sod killing people , you could pick up Sky Digital with that fucker

edit: :icon27:

Post by **CrinklyArse** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:01 pm

i SO want one

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:49 pm

lol so they're microwaving people now!? :icon19:

Post by **tnf** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:22 pm

eepberries wrote:Don't microwaves cause like, cancer? :icon27:

Yes and no.

The Pentagon's "Ray Gun" - for real

The Pentagon's "Ray Gun" - for real

Re: The Pentagon's "Ray Gun" - for real