USA Today article with very good news: “The military has developed technology that uses a high-tech beam to detonate hidden IEDs . . ..”
The only downside: it seems to operate on a wide space, revealing the bombs in the process and—under the right conditions—puts locals in danger IF they’re not forewarned about such countering operations (you know, a blaring voice in the local language announcing that in the next five minutes, everybody should stay clear of roads).
US Marine Corps general James Mattis says, “This is an offensive capability that will change the face of this war.”
I wouldn’t call it “offensive” but resiliently defensive—in effect, we tell the enemy, “All your long and hard and stealthy work gets negated by the flip of our switch, meaning you kill nobody in the process.”
But the “offensive” part comes in the beam’ ability to trigger IEDs while insurgents/terrorists are potentially carrying them or even when they’re under construction.
Mattis advocates putting the technology on aircraft (presumably drones too) and having them sweep areas proactively.
Naturally, the Pentagon announces the capability while providing no details, as countering tactics will invariably ensue. To what effect? We shall see.
But this is indeed good news and a development that bears close watching.
The Office of Naval Research is credited with the development.