Directed-Energy Weapons and Electronic Warfare

President Trump comments on the directed energy weapon used in Venezuela 

NewsNation, January 2026

https://youtu.be/FgtogCctzbY?si=NVwK2qXOH7z3A2Uq&t=968

Katie Pavlich: Speaking of Venezuela, there was a weapon used, a sonic weapon, that took out many of the Cuban bodyguards that were used to defend Maduro. Lots of people saw the details about that weapon and were concerned. Is that something an American should be afraid of, something the United States is combating? 

President Trump: Something I don't want to... Nobody else has it. We have weapons that nobody knows about. And I say it's probably good not to talk about them, but we have some amazing weapons. (...)

Directed-Energy Weapons

Directed-Energy Weapons (DEWs) are distinguished in different classes, including:

1) High-Powered Microwave Systems (HPM); these belong to the more general category of High-Powered Radio-Frequency Weapons,

2) High-Energy Lasers.

A reference for these two classes is provided in this video of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

An example of an HPM is a drone-negation system called THOR, which stands for “Tactical High Power Operational Responder”. It uses high power microwaves to cause a counter electronic effect. It is presented on this page and in this video of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

An example of an HPM which is also a counter personnel (or anti-personnel) weapon, used for instance for perimeter denial, is the Active Denial System (ADS) presented on the following factsheet page which includes videos, links and related factsheets:

https://jifco.defense.gov/Portals/50/Documents/Press_Room/Frequently_Asked_Questions/ADS%20Fast%20Facts_aoMAY21.pdf

A Raytheon reference is available here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20070128014922/http://www.raytheon.com/products/stellent/groups/public/documents/content/cms04_017939.pdf

The ADS works by transmitting a high-powered (100 kW output power) beam of 95 GHz, which corresponds to a wavelength of 3.2 mm. This short millimeter wave energy penetrates the skin up to 0.4 mm (corresponding to three sheets of paper) and generates an intense heating sensation.

A safety assessment of the Active Denial System has been conducted by the AFRL and the “Human Effects Advisory Panel” (reference).

The ADS is an example of an anti-access/area denial (or A2/AD) weapon.

Figure 1: Active Denial System (ADS).

Is it possible to alter parameters in order to induce different effects depending on nerve ending activation? (E.g. discomfort, heating, tickle, itch or prickling sensation)

"Basic Science: The energy reaches a skin depth of 1/64th inch, raising the skin’s temperature in a manner similar to the infrared energy from the sun. The increase in skin temperature triggers nociceptors, which are nerve endings in the skin that are thermal sensitive. This sudden exposure to the nerve endings evokes the temporary, intolerable heating sensation and instinctive human escape response." 

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-D5_400-PURL-gpo81350/pdf/GOVPUB-D5_400-PURL-gpo81350.pdf

"ADS can operate along a wide spectrum of deterrence, because the intensity of its millimeter wave is adjustable. This flexibility allows it to produce sensations from moderate discomfort to a feeling of extreme heat."

https://www.wm.edu/offices/global-research/_documents/pips/ADS.Report.Final.6.28.2013.Printer.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

"Anomalous Acute and Subacute Field Effects on Human Biological Tissues"

https://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/FileId/170026/

"A very recent NATO meta-analysis has defined, on the other hand, low-thermal and non-thermal broad band effects in humans that can be induced by "Non-lethal Weapons" [33]. The development of an active denial system (ADS) in the mm-wave region (94 GHz) at a distance of within 100 meters will cause localized hearing and discomfort (xxii). These wavelengths can not penetrate beneath the superficial layers of the skin. They do stimulate localized pain and stimulation of dermal receptors of the lateral spino-thalamic tract... which will afford direct and specific clues in evaluating claims of injury: the receptors for pain, tickle, itch, and prickling sensation are we believe unique to depth and frequency." 

[33] Risling M 2009 Detailed Examples of Radio Frequency, Kinetic Energy, and ElectroMuscular Devices: a Meta Review NATO RTO-EN-HFM-145: 2-1-2-7 

xxii Unfortunately, the NATO study does not contain information on the power density, or the other technical parameters to accomplish the ADS effect

Fox News tests the Dept. of Defense “Heat Ray” or “Active Denial System” (2012)

Fox News show featuring the story of reporter Peter Doocy: http://video.foxnews.com/v/1500279614001/

Peter Doocy story (included above) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lwuy4OXoRk

Transcript:

Fox News anchor: “The Pentagon has a new tool to ease tensions with crowds but they're not using it just yet. Peter Doocy in advance tries it out for himself.”

Peter Doocy says: “You can't see it hear it or smell it but it makes unruly mobs do this [0:16 a crowd simulating a hostile advance retreats rapidly]. The Defense Department's Active Denial System, a non-lethal weapon that can be used to control crowds, secure perimeters and keep pirates at bay. It could be a game-changer”.

“The military says the Active Denial system is not radioactive, it's not a microwave and it's not a laser beam. It's instead a man-sized beam of millimeter waves* that can be fired from up to a thousand meters away, that are designed to get the subject if they were standing on this X (mark) really, really hot so that they move."

(*Note: 95GHz)

P. Doocy tries the system and reports: “That it's about 50 degrees (10°C) out here right now, but I just felt like it was about a thousand (500°C)! And I have never been inside a tub that somebody dropped a hair dryer in, but I would imagine that that's what it feels like!”

“After about 1.5 seconds 1/64th of an inch (0.4mm) of my skin was a hundred thirty degrees (55°C) ,but as soon as I stepped away it was over, and the DoD says there aren't any lingering effects. “

A researcher from the U.S. Air Force Bio Effects Research Branch mentions: “There's no cancer risk, there's no risk to a fetus or reproductive capability, it's just heat”.

P. Doocy says:  “But the DoD admits this system does have a drawback.”

Assistant Chief Scientist, U.S. Air Force says: "We are propagating through the air, we are therefore relatively line-of-sight and so, we need to be line-of-sight with targets".

Peter Doocy, mentions: "A prototype costs 10 million dollars and there are no plans to deploy one anytime soon."

Additional comment by P. Doocey at the first video: “We are told that out of eleven thousand people they have tested the system out on, they only had only two injuries, and those were second degree burns from overexposures. But now, there are measures in place to avoid injury and keep things both legal and treaty-compliant, which is a big concern.”

The journalist mentions referring to this anti-personnel directed-energy system/weapon: "There are measures in place to keep things both legal and treaty-compliant, which is a big concern."

Dr. Duncan had once mentioned in an interview referring to the targeted individual issue, that treaties are necessary. This is a very important statement coming from a whistleblower — some could consider that this is counterintuitive. 

Electronic Warfare

Electronic warfare has three major subdivisions: electronic attack, electronic protection, and electronic support. More details can be found at this Wikipedia article.

This is reiterated in this presentation by the U.S. Defense Systems Information Analysis Center (DSIAC), a U.S. DoD component, at this specific section.

Of specific interest is the notion of electromagnetic energy coupling into a target, described at this presentation section.

There is a requirement to address complex RF coupling into targets. Pulsing and frequency regimes may be used for resonant coupling of energy into a target as mentioned here.

Figure 2: Electronic warfare and HPM coupling into targets (source).

A Scientific American article, published on  2024-05-23, discusses the vulnerabilities of sensors to directed energy weapons, i.e., both laser and RF/microwave DEWs 

SciAm: https://tinyurl.com/3vpkcest | Research Gate: https://tinyurl.com/5n8rsb9w

It is noted, among other, that radiofrequency weapons couple energy into a target using: 

1. Intended coupling points; e.g., antenna of the targeted receiver.

2. Unintended coupling points; e.g., vulnerabilities that allow for attacking circuits, such as unshielded wires, thereby creating transient voltages that can damage microchips etc.

It is discussed that even optical sensors are susceptible given that they use electric signals. As mentioned, effects may continue in the electronics after the radiofrequency illumination has ended.

The article includes an abundance of references, including primers from the "Congressional Research Service", such as the following: "Defense Primer: Electronic Warfare" (https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11118).