View source for Directed-energy weapon

{{About|real uses of directed energy weapons|fictional uses|Raygun}}
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A '''directed-energy weapon''' ('''DEW''') is a [[ranged weapon]] that damages its target with highly focused [[energy]], including [[laser]], [[microwave]]s, and [[particle beam]]s. Potential applications of this technology include weapons that target [[anti-personnel weapon|personnel]], [[missile defense|missiles]], vehicles, and optical devices.<ref name="Telegraph">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10303988/Golden-Eye-style-energy-beam-is-developed-by-Nato-scientists.html "Daily Telegraph, 12th September 2013"], ''Golden Eye-style energy beam is developed by Nato scientists'', Oct. 08, 2013</ref><ref name="Milsat2">[http://www.satnews.com/story.php?number=1272864526 "Milsat Magazine, Satnews Daily, June 24th 2009"], ''U.S. Navy Laser Versus UAVs... Laser Wins...'', Oct. 08, 2013</ref>

In the United States, [[the Pentagon]], [[DARPA]], the [[Air Force Research Laboratory]], [[United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center|United States Army Armament Research Development and Engineering Center]], and the [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|Naval Research Laboratory]] are researching directed-energy weapons and [[railgun]]s to counter [[ballistic missile]]s, [[hypersonic cruise missile]]s, and [[hypersonic glide vehicle]]s.  These systems of missile defense are expected to come online no sooner than the mid to late-2020s.<ref>[http://aviationweek.com/defense/thaad-er-search-mission Thaad-ER In Search Of A Mission] – Aviationweek.com, 20 January 2015</ref>

[[Russia]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbth.com/defence/2017/07/12/a-farewell-to-traditional-arms-russia-develops-weapons-for-the-future_801080|title=A farewell to traditional arms: Russia develops weapons for the future|first=Boris|last=Egorov|date=July 12, 2017|website=rbth.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pravdareport.com/news/russia/136730-mig_35_laser/|title=Russia's new MiG-35 fighter jet to use laser weapons|date=January 27, 2017|website=PravdaReport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pravdareport.com/russia/135198-russia_laser_weapons/|title=Russia's combat laser weapons declassified|first=Dmitry|last=Sudakov|date=August 3, 2016|website=PravdaReport}}</ref> [[China]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nextshark.com/the-chinese-military-now-have-laser-weapons/|title=The Chinese Military Now Has Laser Weapons|first1=Ryan|last1=General·Asia·December 19|first2=2016·1 Min|last2=Read|date=December 20, 2016|website=NextShark}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popsci.com/china-new-weapons-lasers-drones-tanks/|title=Drones, lasers, and tanks: China shows off its latest weapons|website=Popular Science}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/news/a24973/chinese-microwave-weapon-short-out-ieds-tanks/|title=New Chinese Microwave Weapon Can Short Out IEDs and Tanks|first=Kyle|last=Mizokami|date=January 30, 2017|website=Popular Mechanics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/01/how-china-is-weaponizing-outer-space/|title=How China Is Weaponizing Outer Space|website=thediplomat.com}}</ref> [[India]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/indias-top-secret-weapon-264111-2015-09-21|title=KALI: India's weapon to destroy any uninvited missiles and {{sic|nolink=y|aircrafts}}|first1=India Today Web Desk New|last1=DelhiSeptember 21|first2=2015UPDATED|last2=September 24|first3=2015 15:13|last3=Ist|website=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Future technologies must be propelled by power of today's youth: DRDO chairman|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/nation/2019/08/15/drdo-chief-amca-india-defence-advancements.html|access-date=2020-09-15|website=OnManorama|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=P|first1=Rajat|last2=Sep 14|first2=it / TNN / Updated|last3=2020|last4=Ist|first4=13:41|title=DRDO plans Star Wars-style weapons for battles of future {{!}} India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/drdo-plans-star-wars-style-weapons-for-battles-of-future/articleshow/78096712.cms|access-date=2020-09-15|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> and the [[United Kingdom]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mbda-systems.com/press-releases/dragonfire-laser-turret-unveiled-dsei-2017/|title=Dragonfire laser turret unveiled at DSEI 2017 – MBDA|work=MBDA|access-date=2017-10-21|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/dragonfire-guide-new-british-laser-weapon/|title=Dragonfire, a guide to the new British laser weapon|date=2017-09-18|work=UK Defence Journal|access-date=2017-10-21|language=en-GB}}</ref> are also developing directed-energy weapons while [[Iran]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/544830.html|title=Iran starts producing laser weapons for air defense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldbulletin.net/middle-east/iran-achieves-laser-weapon-systems-deflection-technology-h121001.html|title=Iran achieves Laser Weapon System's deflection technology|website=worldbulletin.net/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.islamtimes.org/en/news/827708/iran-is-producing-laser-air-defense-system|title=Iran is Producing Laser Air Defense System|date=November 16, 2019|website=Islam Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/433633/IRGC-Navy-develops-anti-laser-weapon|title=IRGC Navy develops anti-laser weapon|date=March 3, 2019|website=Tehran Times}}</ref> and [[Turkey]] claim to have directed-energy weapons in active service<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/defense/2019/09/30/turkeys-laser-weapon-armol-passes-acceptance-tests|title=Turkey's laser weapon ARMOL passes acceptance tests|website=DailySabah|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/article/91706/turkish-laser-weapon-passes-acceptance-tests|title=Janes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/economy/turkeys-laser-gun-passes-acceptance-tests/1597850|title=Turkey's laser gun passes acceptance tests|website=aa.com.tr|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref> and the first usage of directed-energy weapons in a combat was claimed to have occurred in Libya in August 2019 by [[Turkey]] which claimed to use the [[ALKA (DEWS)|ALKA Directed-energy weapon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/turkey_uses_laser_weapon_technology_to_shoot_down_chinese_uav_wing_loong_ii_in_libya.html|title=Army Recognition|website=armyrecognition.com|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ahvalnews.com/libya-turkey/turkey-first-country-shoot-down-drone-laser|title=Is Turkey the first country to shoot down a drone with a laser?|website=Ahval|language=en|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref>

After decades of [[research and development]], directed-energy weapons are still at the experimental stage and it remains to be seen if or when they will be deployed as practical, high-performance military weapons.<ref name="nova-bas">{{Cite web|url=https://thebulletin.org/2015/05/navys-new-laser-weapon-hype-or-reality/|title=Navy's new laser weapon: Hype or reality?|date=May 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name="nova-ieee">{{Cite web|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/aerospace/military/no-quick-laser-missile-defense|title=Full Page Reload|website=IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News}}</ref>

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==Operational advantages==
Directed energy weapons could have several main advantages over conventional weaponry:
* Directed-energy weapons can be used discreetly; radiation above and below the visible spectrum is invisible and does not generate sound.<ref name="Defence IQ Press">[http://www.defenceiq.com/army-and-land-forces/articles/we-talk-to-dr-pali-ek-about-directed-energy-system/ "Defence IQ talks to Dr Palíšek about Directed Energy Weapon systems"], ''Defence iQ', Nov. 20, 2012</ref><ref>[http://cmb.physics.wisc.edu/tutorial/spectrum.html Spectrum Tutorial] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531032118/http://cmb.physics.wisc.edu/tutorial/spectrum.html |date=2013-05-31 }}, University of Wisconsin Electromagnetic Spectrum Tutorial, accessed 22/06/2013</ref>
* Light is, for all practical purposes, essentially unaffected by [[Gravitational lens|gravity]], [[windage]] and [[Coriolis force]], giving it an almost perfectly [[Bullet drop|flat trajectory]]. This makes aim much more precise and extends the range to line-of-sight, limited only by beam diffraction and spread (which dilute the power and weaken the effect), and absorption or scattering by intervening atmospheric contents.
* Lasers travel at light-speed and have near infinite range and are therefore suitable for use in [[space warfare]].
* Laser weapons potentially eliminate many logistical problems in terms of ammunition supply, as long as there is enough energy to power them.
* Depending on several operational factors, directed-energy weapons may be cheaper to operate than conventional weapons in certain contexts.<ref>{{cite web |title=US Navy Laser Weapon Fires At $1 Per Shot |url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/11684/US_Navy_Laser_Weapon_Fires_at__1_Per_Shot#.XSkSzutKhhE |website=Defenseworld.net |access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref>

== Microwave weapons ==
Although some devices are labeled as microwave weapons, the microwave range is commonly defined as being between 300&nbsp;MHz and 300&nbsp;GHz, which is within the [[RF]] range<ref>[http://wifiinschools.org.uk/15.html RF vs Microwave Freq range], microwaves and radio waves</ref>—these frequencies having wavelengths of 1 millimeter to 1 meter. Some examples of weapons which have been publicized by the military are as follows:

* [[Active Denial System]] is a millimeter wave source that heats the water in a human target's skin and thus causes incapacitating pain. It was developed by the [[Air Force Research Laboratory|U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory]] and [[Raytheon]] for riot-control duty. Though intended to cause severe pain while leaving no lasting damage, concern has been voiced as to whether the system could cause irreversible damage to the eyes. There has yet to be testing for long-term side effects of exposure to the microwave beam. It can also destroy [[Electromagnetic shielding|unshielded electronics]].<ref>{{cite news | work = [[CBS News]] | date = 2008-06-01 | access-date = 2009-03-30 | title = The Pentagon's Ray Gun | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/29/60minutes/main3891865.shtml }}</ref> The device comes in various sizes, including attached to a [[Humvee]].
* [[Vigilant Eagle]] is a proposed airport defense system that directs high-frequency microwaves towards any projectile that is fired at an aircraft.<ref name=AZrep>"Raytheon focuses on non-lethal weapons", Andrew Johnson, ''The Arizona Republic'', 09-17-2009.</ref> The system consists of a missile-detecting and tracking subsystem (MDT), a command and control system, and a scanning array. The MDT is a fixed grid of passive infrared (IR) cameras. The command and control system determines the missile launch point. The scanning array projects microwaves that disrupt the surface-to-air missile's guidance system, deflecting it from the aircraft.<ref>[http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/rtnwcm/groups/rms/documents/content/rtn_rms_ps_vigilanteagle_datas.pdf ]{{dead link|date=June 2012}}</ref>
* [[Bofors HPM Blackout]] is a high-powered microwave weapon that is said to be able to destroy at short distance a wide variety of [[commercial off-the-shelf]] (COTS) electronic equipment and is purportedly non-lethal.<ref>[http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/BAE_GCSW_hpm_blackout.html ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825185029/http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/BAE_GCSW_hpm_blackout.html |date=August 25, 2010 }}</ref><ref>Magnus Karlsson (2009). "Bofors HPM Blackout". Artilleri-Tidskrift (2–2009): s. s 12–15. Retrieved 2010-01-04.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/#hl=en&cp=19&gs_id=a&xhr=t&q=Bofors+HPM+Blackout&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&site=&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=Bofors+HPM+Blackout&aq=0&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=d8c3d6158c86e07e&biw=1680&bih=916|title=Google|website=google.com}}</ref>
* The [[effective radiated power]] (ERP) of the [[EL/M-2080 Green Pine|EL/M-2080 Green Pine radar]] makes it a hypothetical candidate for conversion into a directed-energy weapon, by focusing pulses of radar energy on target missiles.<ref name="Green Pine" /> The energy spikes are tailored to enter missiles through antennas or sensor apertures where they can fool guidance systems, scramble computer memories or even burn out sensitive electronic components.<ref name="Green Pine">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/12195p3.xml&headline=Israel%20Tests%20Improved%20Arrow%20Interceptor |magazine=[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |title=Israel tests improved Arrow interceptor|date=2005-12-17 |first=David A. |last=Fulghum |access-date=2009-08-19}}</ref>
* [[Active electronically scanned array|AESA]] radars mounted on fighter aircraft have been slated as directed energy weapons against missiles, however, a senior US Air Force officer noted: "they aren't particularly suited to create weapons effects on missiles because of limited antenna size, power and field of view".<ref name="AW&ST-radar">{{cite magazine |url= http://omega.twoday.net/stories/955265/|magazine=Aviation Week & Space Technology |title=Radar Becomes A Weapon|date=2005-09-06 |author=David A. Fulghum |author2=Douglas Barrie |name-list-style=amp|access-date=2014-05-16}}</ref> Potentially lethal effects are produced only inside 100 meters range, and disruptive effects at distances on the order of one kilometer. Moreover, cheap countermeasures can be applied to existing missiles.<ref name="Grisha">{{cite web |url=http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-NOTAM-130408-1.html |publisher=Air Power Australia |title=Grisha's Radar fry-off|date=2008-04-13 |author=Colonel of Aviation Grigoriy "Grisha" Medved (retd) |access-date=2014-05-16}}</ref>
* [[Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project]]

== Laser weapons ==
{{Main|Laser weapon}}
{{summarize|from|Laser weapon|date=February 2020}}
A '''laser weapon''' is a directed-energy weapon based on [[lasers]].<ref name="urlDirected Energy">{{cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/dew.htm |title=Directed Energy |format= |work= |accessdate=}}</ref>

== Particle-beam weapons ==
{{Main|Particle-beam weapon}}
Particle-beam weapons can use charged or neutral particles, and can be either endoatmospheric or exoatmospheric. [[Particle beam]]s as beam weapons are theoretically possible, but practical weapons have not been demonstrated yet. Certain types of particle beams have the advantage of being self-focusing in the atmosphere.

[[Blooming (directed-energy weapon)|Blooming]] is also a problem in particle-beam weapons. Energy that would otherwise be focused on the target spreads out and the beam becomes less effective:
* Thermal blooming occurs in both charged and neutral particle beams, and occurs when particles bump into one another under the effects of thermal vibration, or bump into air molecules.
* Electrical blooming occurs only in charged particle beams, as ions of like charge repel one another.

=== Plasma weapons ===
{{Main|Plasma weapon}}

Plasma weapons fire a beam, bolt, or [[particle beam|stream]] of [[plasma (physics)|plasma]], which is an excited [[state of matter]] consisting of atomic electrons & nuclei and free electrons if [[ionization|ionized]], or other particles if [[pinch (plasma physics)|pinched]].

The [[MARAUDER]] (''Magnetically Accelerated Ring to Achieve Ultra-high Directed-Energy and Radiation'') used the [[Shiva Star]] project (a high energy capacitor bank which provided the means to test weapons and other devices requiring brief and extremely large amounts of energy) to accelerate a toroid of plasma at a significant percentage of the speed of light.<ref>{{cite document|title=Energy Citations Database (ECD) – – Document #7369133 |doi=10.1063/1.860681 |publisher=Osti.gov |bibcode=1993PhFlB...5.2938D |osti = 7369133}}</ref>

The Russian Federation is developing plasma weapons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-laser-electromagnetic-plasma-weapons-military-kremlin-a7540716.html|title=Russia is developing laser, electromagnetic and plasma weapons|date=January 22, 2017|website=The Independent}}</ref>

== Sonic weapons ==
{{Main|Sonic weaponry}}

Tests performed on mice show the threshold for both lung and liver damage occurs at about 184 [[Decibel|dB]]. Damage increases rapidly as intensity is increased. Noise-induced [[neurological]] disturbances in humans exposed to continuous low frequency tones for durations longer than 15 minutes involved development of immediate and long-term problems affecting brain tissue. The symptoms resembled those of individuals who had suffered minor head injuries. One theory for a causal mechanism is that the prolonged sound exposure resulted in enough mechanical strain to brain tissue to induce an [[encephalopathy]].<ref>
"Non-Lethal Swimmer Neutralization Study"; Applied Research Laboratories; The University of Texas at Austin; G2 Software Systems, Inc., San Diego; TECHNICAL DOCUMENT 3138; May 2002 [https://www.spawar.navy.mil/sti/publications/pubs/td/3138/td3138cond.pdf Non-Lethal Swimmer Neutralization Study] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210221132/https://www.spawar.navy.mil/sti/publications/pubs/td/3138/td3138cond.pdf |date=February 10, 2012 }}</ref>

=== Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) ===

[[File:soundweapon1.jpg|thumb|right|The LRAD is the round black device on top of the [[New York City]] police Hummer.]]
The '''[[Long Range Acoustic Device]]''' ('''LRAD''') is an [[acoustic hailing device]] developed by [[LRAD Corporation]] to send messages and warning tones over longer distances or at higher volume than normal [[loudspeaker]]s. LRAD systems are used for long-range communications in a variety of applications<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lradx.com/application/|title=Applications – LRAD Corporation website}}</ref> including as a means of non-lethal, non-kinetic crowd control.

According to the manufacturer's specifications, the systems weigh from {{convert|15|to|320|lb}} and can emit sound in a 30°- 60° beam at 2.5&nbsp;kHz.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E0kUYUOtG0AC&pg=PA65 |page=65 |last=Corbett |first=Peter |title=A Modern Plague of Pirates |isbn=978-0-9562107-0-8|year=2009 }}</ref>

== History ==

=== Mirrors of Archimedes ===
[[File:Archimedes Heat Ray conceptual diagram.svg|thumb|right|Archimedes may have used mirrors acting collectively as a [[parabolic reflector]] to burn ships attacking [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]].]]
{{Main|Archimedes#Heat ray}}
According to a legend, [[Archimedes]] created a mirror with an adjustable focal length (or more likely, a series of mirrors focused on a common point) to focus sunlight on ships of the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] fleet as they invaded [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]], setting them on fire.<ref name=noScifi>Bill Sweetman. "[http://aviationweek.com/defense/directed-energy-weapons-no-longer-science-fiction#slide-0-field_images-1341101 Directed-Energy Weapons: No Longer Science Fiction] ''[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]'', 2015. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150810084543/http://aviationweek.com/defense/directed-energy-weapons-no-longer-science-fiction Archive]</ref> Historians point out that the earliest accounts of the battle did not mention a "burning mirror", but merely stated that Archimedes's ingenuity combined with a way to hurl fire were relevant to the victory. Some attempts to replicate this feat have had some success; in particular, an experiment by students at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] showed that a mirror-based weapon was at least possible, if not necessarily practical.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/2.009/www/lectures/10_ArchimedesResult.html|title=2.009 Archimedes Death Ray|website=web.mit.edu}}</ref> The hosts of ''[[MythBusters]]'' tackled the Mirrors of Archimedes three times (in [[List of MythBusters episodes|episodes 19, 57 and 172]]) and were never able to make the target ship catch fire, declaring the myth busted three separate times.

=== Robert Watson-Watt ===
In 1935, the British [[Air Ministry]] asked [[Robert Watson-Watt]] of the [[Radio Research Station]] whether a "[[death ray]]" was possible.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-27393558|title=The pioneer who went under the radar|last=Sim|first=Philip|date=2014-05-15|access-date=2019-11-22|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/w/robertwatsonwatt.html|title=Robert Watson-Watt: Biography on Undiscovered Scotland|website=undiscoveredscotland.co.uk|access-date=2019-11-22}}</ref> He and colleague [[Arnold Wilkins]] quickly concluded that it was not feasible, but as a consequence suggested using radio for the detection of aircraft and this started the development of [[radar]] in Britain.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-41188464|title=How the search for a 'death ray' led to radar|last=Harford|first=Tim|date=2017-10-09|access-date=2019-11-22|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digital.nls.uk/scientists/biographies/robert-watson-watt/|title=Robert Watson-Watt biography - Science Hall of Fame - National Library of Scotland|website=digital.nls.uk|access-date=2019-11-22}}</ref>

=== The fictional "engine-stopping ray" ===
Stories in the 1930s and World War Two gave rise to the idea of an "engine-stopping ray". They seemed to have arisen from the testing of the television transmitter in [[Feldberg, Baden-Württemberg|Feldberg]], Germany. Because electrical noise from car engines would interfere with field strength measurements, sentries would stop all traffic in the vicinity for the twenty minutes or so needed for a test. Reversing the order of events in retelling the story created a "tale" where tourists car engine stopped first and then were approached by a German soldier who told them that they had to wait. The soldier returned a short time later to say that the engine would now work and the tourists drove off. Such stories were circulating in Britain around 1938 and during the war British Intelligence relaunched the myth as a "British engine-stopping ray," trying to spoof the Germans into researching what the British had supposedly invented in an attempt to tie up German scientific resources.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jones |first=R.V. |author-link=Reginald Victor Jones |title=Most Secret War: British Scientific Intelligence 1939–1945 |date=1978 |publisher=Coronet |isbn=0-340-24169-1 |pages=84,124}}</ref>

=== German World War II experimental weapons ===

During the early 1940s [[Axis Powers|Axis]] engineers developed a [[sonic cannon]] that could cause fatal vibrations in its target body. A [[methane gas]] [[combustion chamber]] leading to two [[parabolic dish]]es pulse-detonated at roughly 44 [[Hertz|Hz]]. This sound, magnified by the dish reflectors, caused [[vertigo]] and [[nausea]] at {{convert|200|-|400|m|yd|abbr=|sp=us}} by vibrating the [[middle ear]] bones and shaking the [[Cochlea|cochlear fluid]] within the [[inner ear]]. At distances of {{convert|50|-|200|m|ft|abbr=|sp=us}}, the [[sound wave]]s could act on organ tissues and fluids by repeatedly compressing and releasing compressive resistant organs such as the [[kidney]]s, [[spleen]], and [[liver]]. (It had little detectable effect on malleable organs such as the [[heart]], [[stomach]] and [[intestine]]s.) [[Lung]] tissue was affected at only the closest ranges as [[Atmosphere|atmospheric air]] is highly compressible and only the blood rich [[Pulmonary alveolus|alveoli]] resist compression. In practice, the [[weapon system|weapon]] was highly vulnerable to enemy fire. [[Rifle]], [[bazooka]] and [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] rounds easily deformed the parabolic reflectors, rendering the wave amplification ineffective.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Weird Weapons: The Axis |series=Modern Marvels |series-link=Modern Marvels |network=The History Channel |credits=Martin O'Collins, director |date=21 February 2006 |season=12 |number=8 |language=en}}</ref>

In the later phases of [[World War II]], [[Nazi Germany]] increasingly put its hopes on research into technologically revolutionary secret weapons, the ''[[Wunderwaffe]]''.

Among the directed-energy weapons the Nazis investigated were [[X-ray]] beam weapons developed under Heinz Schmellenmeier, Richard Gans and Fritz Houtermans. They built an electron accelerator called Rheotron (invented by [[Max Steenbeck]] at [[Siemens-Schuckert]] in the 1930s, these were later called [[Betatron]]s by the Americans) to generate hard X-ray [[synchrotron]] beams for the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM). The intent was to pre-ionize ignition in aircraft engines and hence serve as anti-aircraft DEW and bring planes down into the reach of the flak. The Rheotron was captured by the Americans in Burggrub on April 14, 1945.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

Another approach was Ernst Schiebolds 'Röntgenkanone' developed from 1943 in Großostheim near [[Aschaffenburg]]. Richert Seifert & Co from Hamburg delivered parts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.main-netz.de/nachrichten/region/aschaffenburg/aschaffenburg-land/land/art3986,883119 |title=Forschungsstätte für Hitlers "Todesstrahlen" |publisher=Main-netz.de |date=2009-08-19 |access-date=2012-06-12}}</ref>

===Reported use in Sino-Soviet conflicts===
The [[Central Intelligence Agency]] informed [[Secretary of State|Secretary]] [[Henry Kissinger]] that it had twelve reports of Soviet forces using laser-based weapons against Chinese forces during the [[Sino-Soviet border conflict|1969 Sino-Soviet border clashes]], though [[William Colby]] doubted that they had actually been employed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP80M01048A000800160004-5.pdf |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |date=October 29, 1974|access-date=September 20, 2017 |title=REPORTS OF USE OF LASER WEAPONS BY THE SOVIETS AGAINST THE CHINESE |last=Colby |first=William E.}}</ref>

=== Strategic Defense Initiative ===
In the 1980s, [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] proposed the [[Strategic Defense Initiative]] (SDI) program, which was nicknamed ''[[Star Wars]]''. It suggested that lasers, perhaps space-based [[X-ray laser]]s, could destroy [[Intercontinental ballistic missile|ICBMs]] in flight. Panel discussions on the role of high-power lasers in SDI took place at various laser conferences, during the 1980s, with the participation of noted physicists including [[Edward Teller]].<ref>Wang, C. P.  (Ed.), ''Proceedings of the International Conference on Lasers '85'' (STS, McLean, Va, 1986).</ref><ref>[[F. J. Duarte|Duarte, F. J.]]  (Ed.), [[The International Conference on Lasers and Applications, Lasers 'XX|''Proceedings of the International Conference on Lasers '87'' (STS, McLean, Va, 1988)]].</ref>

Though the strategic missile defense concept has continued to the present under the [[Missile Defense Agency]], most of the directed-energy weapon concepts were shelved. However, Boeing has been somewhat successful with the [[Boeing YAL-1]] and [[Boeing NC-135]], the first of which destroyed two missiles in February 2010. Funding has been cut to both of the programs.

=== Iraq War ===

During the [[Iraq War]], electromagnetic weapons, including high power microwaves, were used by the U.S. military to disrupt and destroy Iraqi electronic systems and may have been used for crowd control. Types and magnitudes of exposure to electromagnetic fields are unknown.<ref>
U.S. Senate – Committee on Veterans Affairs:  Hearings – Gulf War Illnesses; Testimony to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee; Meryl Nass, MD, Director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, Maine; September 25, 2007 [https://web.archive.org/web/20071103025251/http://www.senate.gov/~veterans/public/index.cfm?pageid=16&release_id=11326&sub_release_id=11373&view=all]</ref>

===Alleged tracking of Space Shuttle ''Challenger''===
The [[Soviet Union]] invested some effort in the development of [[ruby laser|ruby]] and [[carbon dioxide laser]]s as anti-ballistic missile systems, and later as a tracking and anti-satellite system. There are reports that the [[Terra-3]] complex at [[Sary Shagan]] was used on several occasions to temporarily "blind" US spy satellites in the IR range.

It has been claimed (and proven false) that the USSR made use of the lasers at the Terra-3 site to target the Space Shuttle ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'' in 1984.<ref name=FAS>{{cite web|last=Kononenko|first=Boris|title=Silent Space Is Being Monitored|url=https://fas.org/news/russia/1996/druma189_s96005.htm|access-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210114952/http://www.fas.org/news/russia/1996/druma189_s96005.htm|archive-date=10 December 2011}}</ref><ref name="Jane's">{{cite web|last=Zaloga|first=Steven|title=RED STAR WARS|url=http://www.oook.info/dyson/sdi.html|access-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> At the time, the Soviet Union were concerned that the shuttle was being used as a reconnaissance platform. On 10 October 1984 ([[STS-41-G]]), the Terra-3 tracking laser was allegedly aimed at ''Challenger'' as it passed over the facility. Early reports claimed that this was responsible for causing "malfunctions on the space shuttle and distress to the crew", and that the United States filed a diplomatic protest about the incident.<ref name=FAS/><ref name="Jane's"/> However, this story is comprehensively denied by the crew members of STS-41-G and knowledgeable members of the US intelligence community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/flights/sts41g.htm |title=STS-41-G |publisher=Astronautix.com |access-date=2012-06-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620020803/http://www.astronautix.com/flights/sts41g.htm |archive-date=2012-06-20 }}</ref> After the end of the [[Cold War]], the Terra-3 facility was found to be a low-power laser testing site with limited satellite tracking capabilities, which is now abandoned and partially disassembled.

== Planetary defense ==
In the United States, the Directed Energy Solar Targeting of Asteroids and exploRation (DE-STAR) Project was considered for non-military use to [[Asteroid impact avoidance|protect Earth from asteroids]].<ref name=Villamarin>[http://www.ibtimes.com.au/end-world-2013-de-star-project-proposed-after-asteroid-2012-da14-flyby-russian-meteor-blast-1305626 "End of the World 2013: DE-STAR Project Proposed after Asteroid 2012 DA14 Flyby, Russian Meteor Blast"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430154442/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/438042/20130222/end-world-2013-de-star-project-proposed.htm |date=2013-04-30 }}, ''International Business Times'', Feb. 22, 2013</ref>

== Non-lethal weapons ==
The TECOM Technology Symposium in 1997 concluded on [[non-lethal weapons]], "determining the target effects on personnel is the greatest challenge to the testing community", primarily because  "the potential of injury and death severely limits human tests".<ref>
Human Effects Advisory Panel Program; presented to: NDIANon-Lethal Defense IV [https://web.archive.org/web/20041114161030/http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/nld4/kenny.pdf]</ref>

Also, "directed-energy weapons that target the central nervous system and cause neurophysiological disorders may violate the [[Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons|Certain Conventional Weapons Convention]] of 1980. Weapons that go beyond non-lethal intentions and cause 'superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering' may also violate the [[Protocol I]] to the Geneva Conventions of 1977."<ref>
Non-Lethal Weaponry: From Tactical to Strategic Applications; Colonel Dennis B. Herbert, USMC (Ret.), program developer, Institute for Non-Lethal Defense Technologies at Pennsylvania State University; pg. 4 [https://web.archive.org/web/20031223201043/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/jfq_pubs/1621.pdf]</ref>

Some common bio-effects of non-lethal electromagnetic weapons include:
* Difficulty breathing
* [[Orientation (mental)|Disorientation]]
* [[Nausea]]
* [[Pain]]
* [[Vertigo (medical)|Vertigo]]
* Other systemic discomfort
Interference with breathing poses the most significant, potentially lethal results.

Light and repetitive visual signals can induce [[epilepsy|epileptic]] seizures. [[Sensory illusions in aviation|Vection]] and [[motion sickness]] can also occur.

[[Cruise ship]]s are known to use sonic weapons (such as [[LRAD]]) to drive off [[pirate]]s.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2005/nov/06/travelnews.uknews.theobserver | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=Pirates shoot at Britons' cruise liner | first=David | last=Smith | date=November 22, 2006}}</ref>

Russia has been reportedly using blinding laser weapons during [[Russian military intervention in Ukraine (2014–present)|its military intervention in Donbass]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/another-blinding-laser-attack-on-ukrainian-soldier-reported-in-donbas-war-zone.html?tqid=kfu0c398B0kBAwl2yk8AsKlrsTMe0E1unCWRvQ$$|title=Another blinding laser attack on Ukrainian soldier reported in Donbas war zone {{!}} KyivPost|date=2018-10-02|work=KyivPost|access-date=2018-10-04|language=en-US}}</ref>

== See also ==
===Similar articles===
* [[Electronic warfare]]
* [[Electromagnetic pulse]]
* [[L3Harris Technologies]]
* [[Laser applications]]
* [[List of laser articles]]
* [[List of plasma (physics) applications articles]]
* [[Havana syndrome]]

===Directed-energy weapons===
* [[Active Denial System]] (ADS), a non-lethal directed-energy weapon developed by the U.S. military, for area denial, perimeter security and crowd control
* [[ALKA (DEWS)|ALKA]], possibly the first Directed-energy weapon to be used in combat
* [[MEDUSA (weapon)]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== References ==
{{Refbegin}}
* ''The E-Bomb: How America's New Directed Energy Weapons Will Change the Way Future Wars Will Be Fought''. Doug Beason (2005). {{ISBN|0-306-81402-1}}
* [http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/jdw/jdw061016_1_n.shtml US claims that China has used high-energy lasers to interfere with US satellites: Jane's Defence]
* [https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-10-05-satellite-laser_x.htm China jamming test sparks U.S. satellite concerns: USA Today]
* [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/26/wchina226.xml Beijing secretly fires lasers to disable US satellites: The Telegraph]
* [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090204004000/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2121111&C=america China Attempted To Blind U.S. Satellites With Laser: Defense News]
* [http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20061025-120611-1464r China Has Not Attacked US Satellites Says DoD: United Press International]
* [http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_Has_Not_Attacked_US_Satellites_Says_DoD_999.html SpaceWar]
* {{cite news | url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/21/beijing-develops-radiation-weapons/ | title=Report: China building electromagnetic pulse weapons for use against U.S. carriers | newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] | date=July 21, 2011 | access-date=April 29, 2012 | author=Gertz, Bill}}
* {{cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/10/army-ordering-p/ | title=Army Orders Pain Ray Trucks; New Report Shows 'Potential for Death' | magazine=[[Wired Magazine]] | date=October 10, 2008 | access-date=April 29, 2012 | author=Hambling, David}}
* {{cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/04/air-force-directed-energy/ | title=Air Force Wants New Energy Weapons to Cause Non-Lethal 'Bioeffects' | magazine=[[Wired Magazine]] | date=April 1, 2013 | access-date=April 1, 2013 | author= Beckhusen, Robert}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.ausairpower.net/dew-ebomb.html Airpower Australia]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120303155201/http://appliedenergetics.com/ Applied Energetics – Photonic and high-voltage energetics (formerly Ionatron)]
* [http://archive.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2005/07/68152 Wired News (AP) article on weapons deployment in Iraq, Active Denial System and Stunstrike], July 10, 2005
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071115082409/http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4231116.html Boeing Tests Laser-Mounted Humvee as IED Hunter], November 13, 2007
* [https://www.dsiac.org/sites/www.dsiac.org/files/legacy_journal/WSTV7N1.pdf WSTIAC Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 1 – Directed Energy Weapons]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031702/http://fas.org/news/russia/1995/tac95060.htm Ogonek Report on '21st Century Weapons']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130120090619/http://defense.aol.com/2012/11/28/how-revolutionary-is-champ-new-air-force-microwave-weapon/ How 'Revolutionary' Is CHAMP, New Air Force Microwave Weapon?], November 28, 2012 By David Axe

{{emerging technologies|topics=yes|military=yes}}
{{Chemical lasers}}
{{Weapons}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Directed-energy weapons| ]]
[[Category:Electromagnetic radiation]]
[[Category:Emerging technologies]]
[[Category:Non-lethal weapons]]