The Ministry of Defense says microwave weapons have become a new threat
After decades of destruction, microwave weapons have begun to be seen as a serious military threat-prompting the Department of Defense to issue a request to equip American soldiers with detectors. This is the so-called “increasing threat on the battlefield.”
These weapons (some of which cause a burning sensation) have been considered for use on American soil. In June, a federal policeman asked for a truck the size of a truck Microwave heat ray Disperse the “black life” protests.Trump administration considers using the same device Against asylum seekers In 2018.
Now, the Department of Defense wants American soldiers to be equipped with microwave weapon detectors.That was proposed on December 9th Contract solicitation Used for “low-cost, lightweight, and compact wearable radio frequency (RF) weapon exposure detectors”, which specify high-frequency microwaves from the Defense Health Program of the Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry of Defense’s interest in detecting microwave weapons comes from Israel, China and Russia According to reports, they are inventing their own version of microwave heat rays”Active rejection systemThe United States was a pioneer twenty years ago. The United States continues to develop this technology: the Air Force Research Laboratory is launching “Anti-group electromagnetic weapon“(Called THOR) bombing drones in flight. Navy microwave weapon prototype Mounted on the standard gun mount Launched in 2018.along with Autumn war Between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the former is Drone fleet Weakened the latter’s defensive capabilities.
Then, in December, a new report suggested that these weapons may cause neurological damage.National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Critical report It is suggested that these weapons are the “most reasonable explanation” for the puzzling nervous system damage seen in at least 15 Cuban diplomats and their families In 2016 and 2017.
“No known pattern [radiofrequency] Injury-guided diagnosis, it will be difficult to distinguish [microwave] Injuries from other common diseases and injuries (such as heat stroke). “The Ministry of Defense’s microwave weapon detector said Procedure requirements, Closed in about two weeks. The transient nature of radio frequency energy exacerbates this ambiguity. If there is no sensor, there may be no residual evidence of RF attack. “
The Department of Defense declined to comment on the probe contract. However, experts contacted by BuzzFeed News believe that the emerging military interest in microwave weapons may stem from the emergence of unmanned weapons and NASEM reports. They added that this technology deserves attention as a new battlefield focus in the 21st century.
Andrew Wood of the Australian Center for Electromagnetic Biological Effects Research said: “I think although the United States has never deployed these weapons on the battlefield, people are worried that other actors will do it.” He added that they can easily hide behind the curtain. Faces, so, for example, a U.S. soldier who is experiencing a burning sensation may need a detector to tell if anyone has aimed a microwave weapon at them.
Marloes Eeftens, an environmental epidemiologist at the Swiss School of Tropical and Public Health, told the contract that the contract’s demand for wearable sensors that can be carried in rifle ammunition bags and clipped to vests also shows that there is concern that staff at military test sites will Accidental exposure to microwaves. Send BuzzFeed news via email.
Eeftens warned that although they felt burning when they were in the beam of a “heat-ray-like” weapon, he warned that it was difficult to determine whether the concentrated microwave field was to blame. She said: “You will not leave any traces, so it is difficult to objectively determine whether someone has actually touched much.
Paul Elliot of Magnetic Science Inc. in Acton, Massachusetts, told BuzzFeed News that there are other types of radio frequency wave detectors besides the microwave described in the Department of Defense’s contract tender. They are usually designed for people who work in electronics.
He said: “What we sell is the size of a brick, at least half the size of a brick.” “You can’t wear it.”
Like a microwave oven in an oven, high-temperature induction microwaves can cook food and cause burns, which is a problem with the nervous system. Health effects May be due to weaker functions Long-term lack of evidence And subject to Today’s conspiracy theories about 5G mobile phones.
U.S. Air Force experiments set limits Human microwave exposure In the 1970s, research on electromagnetic pulses produced by nuclear explosions.Since then, these standards have been widely adopted, but 2018 NATO Technical Report Calling these limits scientifically unreasonable, claiming that there were no experiments that showed harm to support it.French researcher’s report last year Low-power pulsed microwaves are associated with cancer and behavioral changes in rats Raise the issue of health effects again, Especially now considering the use of THOR and other systems in the field of drones.
Ken Foster, a bioengineer at the University of Pennsylvania, said: “I don’t want light beams to cause major safety issues for people, but on the other hand, the amount of research on the biological effects of such pulses is limited.” “If the military wants to deploy these weapons , Then they will better conduct good safety research.”
