The Air Force needs to test non-lethal, high-power microwave weapons in the US for mob control before it uses them overseas on the battlefield, said Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne. That tidbit of news seemed to excite more news media interest around the country than the Secretary’s other, more substantive comments to reporters in Washington earlier this week. (We reported on his discussion in Wednesday’s Daily Report.) Wynne says that the new technology won’t get any more money until further testing resolves any lingering injury issues. The Secretary remarked, “If I hit somebody with a non-lethal weapon and they claim it injured them in a way that was not intended, I think I would be vilified in the world press.” He thinks a mob-control demonstration in the US would show that the technology has specific effects that do no serious damage.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
