The stuff that we're seeing in sci-fi movies are just getting real one after the other. Recently, we reported the U.S. Navy successfully launching a drone swarm, now we read about the U.S. Army testing ray guns that if successful, will be used against electronics in the field.

Called the "Burker Pulser" after the its creator, James E. Burker, an engineer at the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), the device is made up of a piezoelectric generator, two protruding antennas, a blast shield, and mounted at the muzzle end of an M4 rifle, just like mounting a suppressor. When the gun is fired it harnesses the explosive energy and converts it into energy pulses.

The U.S. Army has been developing such energy weapons and until the Burker Pulser, these are bulky vehicle-mounted or towed that are either are anti-personnel and anti-electronics. One laser can destroy a car and the U.S. Navy has tested lasers to take out incoming small high speed boats. They are also deployed to take down missiles and other incoming projectiles. With the Burker Pulser, soldiers will have an estimated sub-US$1,000 device that they can use against IEDs and low flying drones. With that price, the device can be mass produced and equip infantry squads to help out clear roadside bombs that are electronically triggered.

The ability to fry IEDs lessens the risk of sending out an EOD team. It also lessens the delay of advancing units and patrols. The U.S. Army has been testing the Burker Pulser against various electronic devices to find out its effectiveness in the field. The results have been "promising" so far and they might try to test it against more destructive devices to push it to its limits.

It’s a promising development that can also help lower the number of casualties and minimize collateral damage in the field. If that technology gets deployed and mature, who knows? We might be ready for the Martians when try to invade Earth with their own ray guns. Pew! Pew! Pew!