Active Denial System

[kandrathe]

I've participated in discussion about this thing on medieval-themed forums due to the very real possibility that a suit of armor will likely stop this sucker cold. Hell, it's possible that window screens or a windshield could shield you from the microwaves. It wouldn't take all that much preparation on part of the adversary to effect some form of countermeasure, be it shield made from half a metal garbage can, or a smokescreen (would smoke sufficiently absorb or scatter the microwaves?)

In short, this appears to be a very expensive and less effective alternative to tear gas or water cannons, and as such its development primarily as a crowd control system is suspect.

But, as the preliminary research and development towards more powerful directed energy weapons— that seems the more cruelly reasonable motivation.

I'd say it was easier to get funds by marketing the thing as a clean riot-control device rather than considering it the potential stepping-stone towards a battlefield pulse-cannon.

Maybe even wearing leather, or damp leather boots, pants, jacket, gloves. Full ski mask for the head, but I'm not sure how to protect the eyes. It would be no more effective than a blistering agent, but more controlled not having to worry about wind.