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Boeing Develops a Weapon to Shut Down an Enemy's Electronics
USINFO | 2013-10-09 11:24
Recently the Boeing Company tested a new weapon system that promises to revolutionize the way wars are fought, according to Business Insider. The weapon is called the Counter-Electronics High Powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project.
CHAMP, developed by Boeing's Phantom Works, delivers a burst of high powered microwaves from a low flying missile or drone over a target, such as a building or other installation. The burst takes down every electronic system in the target; computers, communications, radar, everything, without harming the building or the people inside. A recent test at the Utah Test and Training Range was a complete success. The weapon is, in essence, a targeted EMP device.
The usefulness of such a weapon is rather obvious. Supposing one wanted to bomb a heavily defended target - say an Iranian nuclear site - the first thing one would do would be to send a flock of CHAMPs over it to take down its electronic systems. Without radar or any other electronic system, the site could be bombed or taken out with cruise missiles at will. Blinded and rendered impotent, there is nothing that could be done to defend a target that a CHAMP weapon has serviced. The only option would be to not be around when the B 2 bombers and the tomahawk cruise missiles show up.
CHAMP could also be used to render an enemy's defenses inoperative in a non lethal fashion. Supposing one wanted to support an insurgency against a tyrannical government without rendering American military personnel at risk, a CHAMP attack would take away that government's ability to communicate with its military units or to receive information about what is happening on the battlefield. A huge technological advantage that a national military has over a guerilla group would be stripped away, placing the insurgents on a more even playing field.
Of course, as with every weapon system, the next task once CHAMP is deployed will be to develop ways to counteract it. Hardening facilities against attack will be a non brainer, albeit an expensive task. Developing ways to detect and destroy the missiles or drones used to deliver the CHAMP attack would also be something needful.
Indeed, the United States military will have to do both things, since while it may be the only armed force with the weapon at first, that happy circumstance will not last forever.
CHAMP, developed by Boeing's Phantom Works, delivers a burst of high powered microwaves from a low flying missile or drone over a target, such as a building or other installation. The burst takes down every electronic system in the target; computers, communications, radar, everything, without harming the building or the people inside. A recent test at the Utah Test and Training Range was a complete success. The weapon is, in essence, a targeted EMP device.
The usefulness of such a weapon is rather obvious. Supposing one wanted to bomb a heavily defended target - say an Iranian nuclear site - the first thing one would do would be to send a flock of CHAMPs over it to take down its electronic systems. Without radar or any other electronic system, the site could be bombed or taken out with cruise missiles at will. Blinded and rendered impotent, there is nothing that could be done to defend a target that a CHAMP weapon has serviced. The only option would be to not be around when the B 2 bombers and the tomahawk cruise missiles show up.
CHAMP could also be used to render an enemy's defenses inoperative in a non lethal fashion. Supposing one wanted to support an insurgency against a tyrannical government without rendering American military personnel at risk, a CHAMP attack would take away that government's ability to communicate with its military units or to receive information about what is happening on the battlefield. A huge technological advantage that a national military has over a guerilla group would be stripped away, placing the insurgents on a more even playing field.
Of course, as with every weapon system, the next task once CHAMP is deployed will be to develop ways to counteract it. Hardening facilities against attack will be a non brainer, albeit an expensive task. Developing ways to detect and destroy the missiles or drones used to deliver the CHAMP attack would also be something needful.
Indeed, the United States military will have to do both things, since while it may be the only armed force with the weapon at first, that happy circumstance will not last forever.
