RF based "non-lethal counter-personnel device to law enforcement"

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Tim Požar <pozar () lns com>
Date: November 23, 2004 1:30:56 PM EST
To: dave () farber net
Subject: RF based "non-lethal counter-personnel device to law 
enforcement"

It would be interesting to see if this ends up being used for crowd 
control domestically.

Tim

--

From the CGC Communicator - http://www.bext.com/_CGC/

EXPERIMENTAL GRANT OF MORE THAN ROUTINE INTEREST

The FCC has granted Raytheon Missile Systems experimental
authority (WD2XKF) to operate at 94.1 - 95 GHz for demonstration
of a non-lethal counter-personnel device to law enforcement,
military and security organizations.  Mobile:  Continental
United States, plus Alaska and Hawaii.

  http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-253918A1.doc

To find out how this device works, CGC turned to its RFR
expert, Ric Tell, who provided the following explanation:

"Without additional information, we assume the Raytheon work
is an extension of the kind of work that the Air Force has been
developing for non-lethal crowd control, etc.  Basically, they use
a high power millimeter wave system with a very directive antenna,
all mounted on a Humvee type vehicle to target the "bad guys" and
heat them up.  I am told that the [microwave beam] - at least the
Air Force version - creates an intense stinging sensation on the
skin.  Perhaps that alone will deter the bad guys from further
activity.

"The basic theory is that the incoming RF will only be absorbed
by the skin because of the very high frequencies involved, but the
concern is that permanent eye damage may result.  The response of
the Air Force has been that the normal "blink" response of the
eyes will protect the eyes from excessive heating.  Some have
questioned this reply; nonetheless, the system is being tested."

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