Boeing CHAMP (Counter-electronics High-powered Advanced Missile) EMP/Microwave Missile Destroys Electronic Targets, not People

By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com

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October 25, 2012

Boeing Phantom Works and a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate team recently tested a new microwave missile called the Counter-electronics High-powered Advanced Missile, or "CHAMP", at the Utah Test and Training Range. CHAMP essentially delivers an EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse)-like directed high-energy microwave burst at as it flies at or past a target, and then keeps going to fry any/all other electronic targets on its route. According to CHAMP program manager Keith Coleman of Boeing Phantom Works, CHAMP "marks a new era in modern-day warfare". "In the near future, this technology may be used to render an enemy’s electronic and data systems useless even before the first troops or aircraft arrive," he went on to say.

CHAMP successfully hit and disabled seven (electronic) targets in all over the course of an hour during the Oct. 16th test (at 10:32 a.m. MST). Raytheon Ktech supplies the High-Power microwave source/emitter.

Vice president of Advanced Boeing Military Aircraft James Dodd highlighted the weapon's precision warfare/humanitarian aspects, emphasizing CHAMP's ability to defeat electronic targets while leaving human beings totally unscathed. Attenuating/mitigating collateral damage is of course one of the U.S. military's primary technology drivers, at present. The U.S. military has recently come under criticism for collateral damge to non-combatants during General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drone/UAS/UAV (Unmanned Aerial System/Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) strikes, where Lockheed Martin HELLFIRE II air-to-ground missiles are fired at vehicles and human targets.

If the Counter-electronics High-powered Advanced Missile (CHAMP) can perform in a real-world combat environment like it did in the test, Mr. Coleman may very well be right.

Photo Credit: Boeing Phantom Works

Company Contact Info:

Boeing Phantom Works
P. O. Box 2515
Seal Beach, California 90740
Phone: 562-797-2020
Website: http://www.boeing.com/bds/phantom_works/index.html

Karen M. Fincutter
Boeing Military Aircraft Communications
Office: 703-414-6158
Mobile: 312-933-6982
Website: http://www.boeing.com/bds/military_aircraft/index.html

Raytheon Ktech
1300 Eubank Blvd. SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123
Phone: 505-998-5830
Fax: 505-998-6059
Website 1: http://ktech.dreamhosters.com/Top/Contact/Contacting_Raytheon_Ktech.html
Website 2: http://www.sstp.org/companies/raytheon-ktech

U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate
377th Air Base Wing PA
Email: 377ABW.PA@kirtland.af.mil
Website: http://www.kirtland.af.mil/afrl_de

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