TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross

Lights out

October 26, 2012 @ 3:11 pm (Updated: 7:14 am - 10/27/12 )


There's a series on NBC called "Revolution", about a world without electricity. One day the laws of physics were changed and the lights all just blinked out.

And America becomes a ruined cityscape ruled by warlords. But it's only fiction, right? Well, actually, no.

"We hit every target we wanted to, we prosecuted everyone. Today we made science-fiction science fact," said Keith Coleman of Boeing's Phantom Works.

Coleman is in charge of CHAMP, the Counter-intelligence High-powered Advanced Microwave missile Project, which passed its first field test last week.

Basically, it's a non-lethal missile that attacks an enemy not by blowing up buildings, but using an intense micro-wave pulse that turns out the lights - and anything else that uses electricity - instantly.

A Boeing video of an earlier test on building full of desktop computers shows all of them are knocked out without any structural damage.

Tuesday over the Nevada desert, the actual missile was tested and worked as planned.

"When we fired, we took out everything on that. It was fantastic," said Coleman.

The one thing that's a little disturbing is that the video shows the missile plunging a modern skyline into complete darkness. But aren't our enemies these days living in tents in the desert?

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Comments (5)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Not just computers, Dave. And not just lights.
    October 27, 2012 6:55 am
    Electromagnetic pulses also can (and have) knocked out the control modules in vehicles. .. Permanently. ...... And it's not our 'enemies' we should be worrying about (who live in Dubai high-rises, anyway - it's just the 'expendables' who live in tents), but just about anyone in THIS country who can afford a drone.

    Some of those people we might trust (the police - Yes? No?) but this does sound like a great way to pulse out your neighbor's noisy sound system at 3AM.

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  • clevesside wrote...
    The lack of light.....
    October 27, 2012 9:40 am
    ...replaced by the roar of gas-powered generators everywhere in the hypothetical darkness. Then, what takes the gas out? Science fact back to science fiction? Someone call Hollywoood again for this "franchise."
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  • roomtemp wrote...
    @clevesside...
    October 29, 2012 12:12 am
    Most modern gensets have electronic control circuitry to regulate the output power and/or electronic ignition that would also be affected by an emp. So, no... Unless it's a 30+yr old diesel rig.

    I suppose there's always the possibility of building a Faraday cage into a genset cover.

    The sun can do this to us too. The next Carrington event is going to be a little bit ugly. ;-)

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  • fartforce1 wrote...
    EMP microwaves? Missle mounted phars gun? No and No.
    October 27, 2012 9:59 am
    The issue I have is what source material they are using?
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  • Cigarillo wrote...
    Oh, CR@P!
    October 27, 2012 9:41 pm
    MY PACEMAKER!
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