Is the US developing microwave superweapons?

Question

The japanese tried to make a x-ray beam in the 50's but did not succeed because it did not go far enough...it could only melt an enemy at a range of 5 feet....if we develop this weapon, wouldn't there be no defense for it.....imagine a concentrated beam of microwaves that will melt your enemies and anything that stands in its way for about a mile or so......I'm working on it

--sorry the japanese developed microwave weapons not x-ray...my bad

Answer 1

You might find the article below interesting... I for one am pretty skeptical if the tech in the article will ever see the battlefield, though.

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/a4ce42fd3f98a010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

A more recent technology that is pretty much on the verge of deployment is a non-lethal microwave beam (crowd control). It is designed to only penetrate a thin layer of the skin and induce a weird burning sensation while in the beam. After stepping away from the beam, no physical harm appears to be done. I can't find a much more informative PopSci article, but here is an msnbc article from a year ago.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8644374/

Answer 2

The US has certainly tried to do this. However, the super-radar on the AEGIS destroyer is about the limit of this. That is a microwave, and it would bake a person from 50 feet, much less 5 feet. However, the energy required is far too great for this to be a walking-around weapon.

The radar and jamming capabilities of such a device far outweigh the usefulness as a destructive weapon. It's simply cheaper and easier to build more capable weapons of destruction.

Answer 3

From all appearances, the US is trying to develop as many weapons as possible while complaining about others doing the same. Doesn't seem very positive to me.

Perhaps it would be better to stop making energies of the rest of the world.