THE BIG STORY WITH JOHN GIBSON (17:23) - Fox News Network March 10, 2003
U.S. Military May Use New "Smart" Weaponry in War
GIBSON: The U.S. military getting ready for a possible war with Iraq, as we have been discussing. And for this go-around with Saddam, the weapons are stealthier than ever. The government won't even admit that some of them exist. But according to military experts, there's one secret weapon that could start it all off and Heather Nauert is here to tell us about it.
NAUERT: Hi, John. Even before the first traditional bombs might be dropped, the military may use its latest in high-tech weaponry. This one wouldn't kill, but it would fry the electronics of everything from fighter jets to communications equipment. It's called an e-bomb.
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NAUERT (voice-over): Imagine stopping an armored column of tanks in its tracks, knocking out a command center, or even preventing a chemical weapons attack without harming a single person. It may now be possible with a new category of non-lethal weapons, known as directed energy weapons or e-bombs.
GEN. TOMMY FRANKS, COMMANDER OF CENTCOM: You mentioned the e-bomb, and I can't talk to you about that because I don't know anything about it.
NAUERT: Officially, they don't exist. But experts agree if there's action in Iraq, it probably won't be long until these weapons make their debut.
ERIC ADAMS, "POPULAR SCIENCE": The high-powered microwave weapon is essentially a bomb that is dropped from an airplane, usually. And it will have basically a device implanted in the bomb that will eliminate a blast or burst of electrical energy, up to two billion watts. And that will, essentially, fry the electronic components of any electrical system in the vicinity.
NAUERT: The e-bomb can be fired from a cruise missile, on a U.S. warship or B-52 miles away. Upon reaching a predetermined target, the weapon emits a massive electromagnetic pulse, capable of frying the insides of digital electronic systems, disabling the enemy's military equipment below.
LT. COL. PIERS WOOD, GLOBALSECURITY.ORG: It gives us the opportunity, of course, to avoid collateral damage, which is extremely important. And we could disrupt enemy communications and completely silence radar sites or their weapons site, even, motor pool, whatever, and not kill any of the people and, certainly, avoid civilian casualties.
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NAUERT: It sounds like the perfect 21st century weapon and that is exactly why other countries, including some not so friendly with the U.S. are currently developing e-bombs, too. But right now, only the U.S. has its prototype.
GIBSON: So, the television crews on the rooftop of the hotel in Baghdad, all of their uplink equipment, their cellphones, their computers ...
NAUERT: It could happen. There might be some unhappy news execs.
GIBSON: Could be fried. Heather Nauert, thanks very much.
NAUERT: Thank you.
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