Newsweek wrote:The U.S. has a microwave weapon that could fry the electronics of North Korea’s missiles and prevent them from launching, according to a weapons development official.
The weapons, known as CHAMPs, have a range of some 700 miles and can use microwave energy to bring down electronic systems in enemy territory. The devices are delivered while attached to B-52 bombers.
As a war of words continues to escalate between Pyongyang and Washington, President Donald Trump’s administration is considering all possibilities in the event of an outbreak of conflict with the rogue state.
Officials have become so concerned about North Korea’s missile launches that the microwave weapons were discussed at an August White House meeting on North Korea, two officials told NBC News.
The CHAMP, which began development in 2009, is publicly known to have been tested only once, in 2012; other trials have been kept top secret. But the weapon is now operational.
Other than the 'range', which is presumably how far away the B-52 can fire the weapon to the target, there's not much information. How large an area is effected? And, if missile electronics are affected, what about anti-radar and SAM systems? After the initial microwave zap, could fighters and bombers fly over the territory with impunity, if electronic detection is wiped out? Or how difficult is it to harden defenses against microwave attack? And there is no information about how the weapon itself works. Presumably this would some type of terrain-hugging cruise missile, in order to avoid radar detection.
One weird little irony here: "the device are delivered while attached to B-52 bombers." The B-52 was introduced in 1955, which means it has been in service 62 years. Flying a B-52 today would be like using a bolt-action Springfield rifle in the Vietnam War. If there ever were weapons that justified their expense, it was The B-52s.
Microwave weapons attacking electronics an the ground raises some troubling questions. Microwaves are not good for human beings.
The military is also developing Directed Energy Weapons (DEWS) that can be anti-personnel weapons. DEW is DarpaSpeak for ray gun.
Of course, in 50 years everyone will have them.