<HTML>Top Ten: Weapons of the future
12 April 2006
NewScientist.com news service
Jeff Hecht
1. Autonomous weapons
2. High-energy lasers
3. Space-based weapons
4. Hypersonic aircraft (Scramjet)
5. Active Denial System
6. Nuclear missiles
7. Stun guns (Tasers)
8. High-power microwave weapons (e-bombs)
9. Layered missile defence
10. Information warfare
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5. Active Denial System (millimetre-wave weapon)
Millimetre-wave or microwave beams supposedly make people flee without injuring them. They might typically be powered by a generator fitted to a Humvee, in crowd control situations.
How it works:A 2-metre antenna and mobile generator produce and aim a beam of 95-gigahertz (3-millimetre) radiation. The top 0.3 mm of skin absorbs millimetre waves, causing intense pain within five seconds, so people flee quickly, if they can.
Limitations: Serious injury is possible if people cannot escape from the beam; skin burns within minutes. The beam also superheats metal objects like coins, earrings, or spectacle frames, which can then burn skin.
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8. High-power microwave weapons (e-bombs)
High-power microwave pulses can knock out computers, electronics, and electrical power, crippling military and civilian systems.
How they work:A rapid increase in electromagnetic field strength during a pulse, induces surges of electric current in conductors. This burns out electrical equipment – semiconductor chips are particularly vulnerable. Special bombs generate the most intense pulses covering large areas, but unmanned aircraft carrying smaller generators can pinpoint targets.
Limitations: The effects can depend on local conditions, and are hard to predict. Sensitive enemy military equipment can be shielded, and microwaves also disable friendly electronics within range.
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10. Information warfare
This technique interferes with the flow of information vital to enemy operations, while defending friendly channels of communication.
How it works:Information warfare specifically targets communication networks and computers. Expert computer hackers, called crackers, might break into or overload military computers and networks, or spread computer viruses. Jammers might also block radio and television transmissions. Misinformation is circulated deliberately.
Limitations: The US relies more on computers and communications than most of their potential adversaries – making the technique a potential threat to them, and of limted use against low-tech opponents. Both side are also vulnerable to mis-information.
Jeff Hecht, 19 April 2006</HTML>
