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.But New Scientist magazine reported Wednesday that during tests carried out at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, participants playing the part of rioters were told to remove glasses and contact lenses to protect their eyes.In another test, they were also told to remove metal objects like coins from their clothing to avoid local hot spots developing on their skin.“What happens if someone in a crowd is unable for whatever reason to move away from the beam,” asked Neil Davison, coordinator of the non-lethal weapons research project at Britain’s Bradford University.

“How do you ensure that the dose doesn’t cross the threshold for permanent damage? Does the weapon cut out to prevent overexposure?”The magazine said a vehicle-mounted version of the weapon named Sheriff was scheduled for service in Iraq in 2006, and that U.S. Marines and police were both working on portable versions.

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That's a nice little toy. I think I'll buy one so I don't have to mow the snow away from my drive-in in wintertimes. I'll just melt the snow. YIIIR!!!! People with glasses shouldn't be in riots anyway

I think its beautiful! I can hardly wait to see the next generation of this system.

I guess its better than shooting rioters, but there does seem to be a few things they havent thought through. For my anti-rioting I would use a watercannon with pepperspray added to the water.

why not use it on terrorist they could do some damage to them

If I were the terrorists I'd be investing in "reflective armor"

or giant mirrors haha

Thats what should be used, But you know the government....Always wanting to make something new.

Ohhhh gawd, didn't John Titor mention something about non-lethal weapons that turn out to be lethal (yeah, I know Titor was proven fake ) Only time will tell now
Microwaves - don't they say not to stand in front of a microwave oven when it is on - yadda, yadda, yadda...SIGN O' THE TIMES

They all so say not to run at Armed Troops in a combat zone, but people do it any way. As for the glasses and coins, how about hand grenades and fire arms,or dynamite wrapped around you body! Its would not be the wearers fault if they blew up, it would be that Dammed Ray Gun.


I know, instead let hand them a Flower and maybe they will be nice!

I'd read about this some time ago and thought what a cruel device something like that would be.

And now, there it is, ready to be put to use.

Next thing you know, there will be smaller, more portable microwave devices similar to this for law enforcement officers, and just like guns, criminal idiots will soon have them too.

They might as well start building phasors like on Star Trek. All they really need is a power source that's small enought to.....

Sorry, I'm rambling now.

I say we make the biggest frozen dinner of all time and see what this puppy will really do.

I wonder how many supposedly non-lethal weapons turned out to be actually lethal during testing, I sure as hell wouldn`t want to be a test subject when it came to testing any weapons at all.

Dr. Pantsman: The Galactical atomic destabeliser is designed to send out a signal to the farthest corner of our galaxy to search for Extra-terrestrial life-forms.

Apprentice: But what if it's lethal?

Dr. Pantsman: Yuk yuk yuk. Now why would it be lethal?

*The entire galaxy blows up*

The weapons in use now leave leave large holes in people and other thing. Usually along with a large pool of blood, and chunks of human meat.

I like the new one better!

Guess it would get the job done...

Looks like the highly technical, very expensive ray gun has only one weakness.....

Wrapping yourself in 30 cents of tin-foil.

atleast the military can do plenty of microwave meals simultaneously

HAHA yah, now they have a new way of heating their instant rations. LOL

Rathman: metals reflect microwaves... hehe... but I think if the microwave is strong enough the microwave will destroy the metal.

I could imagine they developed this in area 51, and are developing micro-wave cannons for tanks and satellites too.

I remember something about this years ago when they were suggesting low power microwaves as a non-lethal means of breaking up riots - then the scientists suggested that the effect would be to "heat up" the lower bowel and encourage evacuation.

You can't riot if you are sh*tt*ng yourself!

This suggests that they have gone past that point to a painful but non-lethal "weapon" system, so when are they going to upgrade to the lethal version?

Or am I too cynical?

Jesus Christ! why do people always get pussyfied when non lethal weapons aren't so non lethal. If the alternative is the sub-machine gun a non-lethal-ish weapon has to be good. Lets face it though; its not really possible to disperse a violent crowd with fluffy cushions, now is it?

I think it is cool... Even though it is against my belief becuase I have always wanted to incite a mass riot.

The meds Johnny the meds....anyhow
I heard of that system too, plus one that sends out a high frequency wave that makes you involuntarily vomit.

Why dont they just use this on the presidents and governments that had chances to capture Bin Laden cuz then we wouldn't had been going thru war if he had been captured.

m16's and all of those guns are way to heavy and loud maybe just maybe this could benefit us. Beam------------------- ">splat!"< your cooked ! i like it! emo gives it a i couldn't agree any more no violence just heat which is good.
elmo is out!

If I remember right, the russians used a simular device on a U.S. embassy head during the cold war. Low power over a few months gave the men Brain cancer.

Or so I have read.

now, watch people say they were testing the laser on the pentagon on 9/11.

I heard of that one too, I believe it happened.