Militaries around the world are scrambling to realise the ‘God mode’ of invulnerability and infinite ammunition promised by laser weapons.
A television reporter reacts to being hit by a heat ray during a demonstration of the U.S. military’s Active Denial System.
Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images
Electromagnetic beams of the right power and wavelength can cause pain and zap electronics. Could they also be used to disrupt a person’s nervous system?
Several countries are developing microwave weapons, like this U.S. Air Force system designed to knock down drones by frying their electronics.
AFRL Directed Energy Directorate
High-power microwave weapons are useful for disabling electronics. A new report says they ‘plausibly explain’ some ailments suffered by US diplomats and CIA agents in Cuba, China and other countries.