Air Force has new missiles that can zap enemy electronics

[Peter1469]

Air Force has new missiles that can zap enemy electronics

These missiles seem to use microwaves to create an EMP like effect.

The U.S. Air Force has deployed at least 20 missiles that could zap the military electronics of North Korea or Iran with high-power microwaves, rendering their military capabilities virtually useless without causing any fatalities, DailyMail.com has learned exclusively.

Known as the Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP), the missiles were built by Boeing's Phantom Works for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and tested successfully in 2012. They have not been operation until now.


The microwave weapons are fitted into an air-launched cruise missile and delivered from B-52 bombers. With a range of 700 miles, they can fly into enemy airspace at low altitude and emit sharp pulses of high power microwave (HPM) energy that fry computer chips, disabling any electronic devices targeted by the missiles with causing any collateral damage.


Mary Lou Robinson, the chief of the High Power Microwave Division of the Air Force Research Lab at Kirtland Air Force Base, has confirmed to DailyMail.com that the missiles are now operational and ready to take out any target.

I assume that they would work against incoming hyper-sonic missiles.

[MisterVeritis]

Air Force has new missiles that can zap enemy electronics

These missiles seem to use microwaves to create an EMP like effect.


I assume that they would work against incoming hyper-sonic missiles.

The technology might. But a cruise missile will not ever be close enough for long enough to make any difference.

[Sergeant Gleed]

I remember hearing, about 15 years ago, that the po-lice were considering using microwave beamer to shut down cars in high-speed pursuits.

And then never heard of it again.

[Sergeant Gleed]

The technology might. But a cruise missile will not ever be close enough for long enough to make any difference.

Depends on the intensity, doesn't it?

Also, even a temporary effect can make the difference in a dog fight

[MisterVeritis]

Depends on the intensity, doesn't it?

Also, even a temporary effect can make the difference in a dog fight

A cruise missile is moving at around 400 mph. A hyper velocity missile is traveling at 5k-6K mph.

No.

[Peter1469]

The technology might. But a cruise missile will not ever be close enough for long enough to make any difference.

I don't know what the effective range of the microwaves is.

[MisterVeritis]

I don't know what the effective range of the microwaves is.

I will speculate that a cruise missile born microwave weapon may have an effective range of in the low hundred meter range. Dwell time is also important.