Weapons

New Chinese Microwave Weapon Can Short Out IEDs and Tanks

China has unveiled a new directed energy weapon, one that poses a serious threat to high-tech U.S. military electronics. According to Popular Science the weapon, which resembles existing American arms, can "disable missiles and paralyze tanks".

The unnamed weapon system has been in development for the past six years at the Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology in Xi'an, China. According to Popular Science, the weapon is "small enough to fit on a lab bench" and is ready to be weaponized. A cruise missile, such as the ones pictured above, is one deployment option.

Microwave weapons work by unleashing a torrent of microwave radiation that can disable or even destroy integrated circuits. That means everything from iPhones to cars is vulnerable. It also means enemy weapons, communications systems, and sensors are feasible targets.