http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/05/24/boeing-unveils-electromagnetic-pulse-weapon.aspx?source=eogyholnk0000001
Boeing Unveils Amazing, Slightly Terrifying New Electromagnetic Pulse
Weapon
With pinpoint accuracy, this electronic warfare drone can black out
opposing forces at will.
BOEING'S "CHAMP" (COUNTER-ELECTRONICS HIGH-POWERED MICROWAVE ADVANCED
MISSILE PROJECT) IS A ONE-MISSILE, FLYING BLACKOUT. IMAGE SOURCE: BOEING.
Born
into Generation X, I grew up with the threat of nuclear war -- and all its
corollaries, from visions of mushroom clouds to "duck and cover" drills in high
school to Terminator movies, and of course, the ever-present worry that
one day a sneaky Soviet satellite would detonate way up in the sky and fry all
of our electronics with an "electromagnetic pulse."
into Generation X, I grew up with the threat of nuclear war -- and all its
corollaries, from visions of mushroom clouds to "duck and cover" drills in high
school to Terminator movies, and of course, the ever-present worry that
one day a sneaky Soviet satellite would detonate way up in the sky and fry all
of our electronics with an "electromagnetic pulse."
So imagine my
surprise when the U.S. Air Force confirmed last week that it's developed an
electromagnetic pulse weapon of its own, and thatBoeing(
NYSE:BA) is helping to build it.
surprise when the U.S. Air Force confirmed last week that it's developed an
electromagnetic pulse weapon of its own, and thatBoeing(
NYSE:BA) is helping to build it.
OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY MAPS THE AREAS LIKELY TO BE BLACKED
OUT IN THE EVENT OF A HIGH-ALTITUDE NUCLEAR EMP ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES.
BOEING'S AREA OF EFFECT WILL BE CONSIDERABLY SMALLER. IMAGE SOURCE: OAK
RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY.
A CHAMP-ion ideaThe weapon in
question: Boeing's "CHAMP," short for Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave
Advanced Missile Project. It's essentially the old nuclear electromagnetic pulse
weapon that we used to worry so much about -- but without the nuclear part.
CHAMP carries a small generator that emits microwaves to fry electronics with
pinpoint accuracy. It targets not nations or cities but individual buildings,
blacking out their electronics rather than blowing up physical targets (or
people).
question: Boeing's "CHAMP," short for Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave
Advanced Missile Project. It's essentially the old nuclear electromagnetic pulse
weapon that we used to worry so much about -- but without the nuclear part.
CHAMP carries a small generator that emits microwaves to fry electronics with
pinpoint accuracy. It targets not nations or cities but individual buildings,
blacking out their electronics rather than blowing up physical targets (or
people).
What makes CHAMP even more interesting is that, unlike a nuclear
electromagnetic pulse weapon, which fires once, blacking out entire
nation-states, CHAMP can fire multiple times, pinpointing and blacking out only
essential targets. This would permit, for example, taking down radar defenses in
a hostile state, while saving the electrical grid that supports the civilian
population. In a 2012 test flight in Utah, a single CHAMP was reported to have
blacked out seven separate targets in succession, in one single
mission.
electromagnetic pulse weapon, which fires once, blacking out entire
nation-states, CHAMP can fire multiple times, pinpointing and blacking out only
essential targets. This would permit, for example, taking down radar defenses in
a hostile state, while saving the electrical grid that supports the civilian
population. In a 2012 test flight in Utah, a single CHAMP was reported to have
blacked out seven separate targets in succession, in one single
mission.
WHEN CHAMP LIGHTS UP, BUILDINGS GO DARK -- ONE BY ONE. IMAGE SOURCE: BOEING.
Even
back then, a Boeing representative was able to boast: "We hit every target we
wanted to," predicting further that "in the near future, this technology may be
used to render an enemy's electronic and data systems useless even before the
first troops or aircraft arrive." Three years later, that future has arrived.
Air Force Research Laboratory commander Maj. Gen. Tom Masiello says CHAMP is "an
operational system already in our tactical air force."
back then, a Boeing representative was able to boast: "We hit every target we
wanted to," predicting further that "in the near future, this technology may be
used to render an enemy's electronic and data systems useless even before the
first troops or aircraft arrive." Three years later, that future has arrived.
Air Force Research Laboratory commander Maj. Gen. Tom Masiello says CHAMP is "an
operational system already in our tactical air force."
Who makes
it?Boeing headlines the CHAMP product, but at least two other companies
are known to be involved in the project. According to Military
Embedded Systems, it's actually Raytheon(
NYSE:RTN) that builds the electronic innards of the
device -- the "shooting end" of a weapon that doesn't actually shoot anyone.
(Raytheon's involvement shouldn't come as a surprise, given the company's
expertise building complementary weapons, such as its MALD-J
radar-spoofing, electronics-jamming drone.)
it?Boeing headlines the CHAMP product, but at least two other companies
are known to be involved in the project. According to Military
Embedded Systems, it's actually Raytheon(
NYSE:RTN) that builds the electronic innards of the
device -- the "shooting end" of a weapon that doesn't actually shoot anyone.
(Raytheon's involvement shouldn't come as a surprise, given the company's
expertise building complementary weapons, such as its MALD-J
radar-spoofing, electronics-jamming drone.)
Additionally, Lockheed
Martin(
NYSE:LMT) builds the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff
Missile -- Extended Range (
JASSM-ER), which the Air Force intends to use as CHAMP's delivery mechanism.
A cruise missile with an estimated range in excess of 600 miles, JASSM-ER will
itself be deployable from combat aircraft such as F-15 and F-16 fighter jets,
B-1 and B-52 bombers, and the F-35 stealth fighter -- extending CHAMP's reach
even further.
Martin(
NYSE:LMT) builds the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff
Missile -- Extended Range (
JASSM-ER), which the Air Force intends to use as CHAMP's delivery mechanism.
A cruise missile with an estimated range in excess of 600 miles, JASSM-ER will
itself be deployable from combat aircraft such as F-15 and F-16 fighter jets,
B-1 and B-52 bombers, and the F-35 stealth fighter -- extending CHAMP's reach
even further.
To date, Military Embedded Systems notes that the Air Force
Research Laboratory has contracted Boeing to build only five CHAMP devices. But
the trend in Pentagon acquisitions projects suggests the Air Force could soon be
building these weapons en masse. From MALD-J radar-jamming drones to Switchblade
kamikaze guided rockets and now CHAMP mini-electromagnetic-pulse weapons, the
Air Force seems intent on fighting its next war more or less entirely by remote
control.
Research Laboratory has contracted Boeing to build only five CHAMP devices. But
the trend in Pentagon acquisitions projects suggests the Air Force could soon be
building these weapons en masse. From MALD-J radar-jamming drones to Switchblade
kamikaze guided rockets and now CHAMP mini-electromagnetic-pulse weapons, the
Air Force seems intent on fighting its next war more or less entirely by remote
control.
To the extent CHAMP makes that easier for them, I expect it to
be a very popular product indeed.
be a very popular product indeed.
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World Wide Web to bed. And if you act quickly, you could be among the savvy
investors who enjoy the profits from this stunning change. Experts are calling
it the single largest business opportunity in the history of capitalism...
The Economist is calling it "transformative"... But you'll probably just
call it "how I made my millions." Don't be too late to the party -- click
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