Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Zappin’ pirates

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Veterans Donate to DU
 
unhappycamper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-03-08 06:46 AM
Original message
Zappin’ pirates


Pirate zapper
Navy may use skin-warmer, ear-splitter to fight...



Zappin’ pirates
By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 3, 2008 5:36:19 EST

Navy ships frustrated by pirates and small-boat attackers could get a new tool to disarm such threats: a nonlethal people zapper. Fifth Fleet commander Vice Adm. Bill Gortney has put out an “urgent need statement” seeking nonlethal weapons to enable cruisers and destroyers to keep small boats at bay.

“If you’re the (commanding officer) of a DDG ... and you see these small boats coming, all you can do is shoot at them,” said Marine Maj. Gen. Tom Benes, director of expeditionary warfare for the chief of naval operations. “Nonlethal weapons give you the ability to cover that gap.”

The Active Denial System, a high-powered millimeter-wave ray that field commanders have requested for use in Iraq, is among the options, Benes said. Another is the Long Range Acoustic Device, already in limited use in the fleet, which sends warnings and ear-splitting noise in a particular direction.

Although ADS has been touted as a land-based technology, the Defense Department has concluded the system could work over water, according to officials at Raytheon, which has delivered three of the systems to the Air Force.

“We’d be ready to make a recommendation that the system would be effective if used at sea aboard ship,” said George Svitak, Raytheon’s business development director for directed energy weapons.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/navy_pirate_zapper_110308w/%2e
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Veterans Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC