Cable Forum - US plans for a 'directed enegry' attack.

the US is planning to introduce a new weapon to use after military tests are completed.

'directed energy weapons' are to be produced, the energy is made up of an electrical discharge which could paralyze body parts such as arms and legs of enemys, whilst retaining heart and lung functions.

initial trial tests are to be conducted on chickens.

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Aside from paralyzing potential attackers or noncombatants like a long-range stun gun, directed-energy weapons could fry the electronics of missiles and roadside bombs, developers say, or even disable a vehicle in a high-speed chase.

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The most ambitious program is the Air Force's Airborne Laser, a plan to mount a laser on a modified Boeing 747 and use it to shoot down missiles.

at the same research center another weapon is being developed dubbed 'active denial system'

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which repels adversaries by heating the water molecules in their skin with microwave energy. The pain is so great that people flee immediately.

"It just feels like your skin is on fire," said Rich Garcia, a spokesman for the laboratory who, as a test subject, has felt the Active Denial System's heat. "When you get out of the path of the beam, or shut off the beam, everything goes back to normal. There's no residual pain."

source: CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science....ap/index.html