US' CHAMP could counter N Korean threat

The United States Air Force is developing a weapon with microwave technology that is likely capable of countering the missiles launched by North Korea.

The weapon has been named CHAMP - an acronym for Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project.

It's a high-powered microwave weapon that can be delivered on an air-launched cruise missile, deployed from an American bomber, reported CNN, citing the spokesman for the Air Force Research Lab at Kirtland Air Force Base, James Fisher, as saying.

The cruise missile with a CHAMP system strapped to it would fly into enemy airspace at low altitude, and send out strong pulses of electromagnetic energy. The enemy's electronic command-and-control systems would be jammed, Fisher added.

It's designed to use microwaves to target enemy military facilities and destroy electronic systems, like computers, that control their missiles. The weapon itself wouldn't damage the buildings or cause casualties.

The CHAMP was not developed to counter the North Korean threat, in specific, however, the applications could be effective against North Korea.

Retired Air Force intelligence officer Col. Cedric Leighton told CNN that CHAMP could be a game-changer with North Korea.

"It would be very useful in the Korean theatre because it wouldn't require the presence of significant numbers of ground forces," Leighton said.

CHAMP weapons are not currently operational.