Experimental Ideas for Counter-Terrorism


Overview

Some highly experimental ideas using simple electronics to help in the prevention of terrorism, countering insurgencies, and also countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).  Also to help capture the world's most wanted pampered multi-millionaire.  

Idea #1 - RF Return of Gun Barrel

[idea-1]

Terrorists always seem to carry AK-47 rifles around with them.  By generating a radio signal equal to one-half wavelength of the rifle's barrel you may be able to get a strong reflected signal.  This works in the similar method of radar chaff, used to jam radar signals.  The barrel would act as a beacon and could show up on the radar screen as a strong return.  Options include using nano-second radar pulses to avoid any clutter, non-linear juction harmonics to verify it is indeed a metallic object and a doppler shift to remove stationary objects.

Idea #2 - RF Return of Ayman Al-Zawahiri's Glasses

[idea-2]

Similar to Idea #1, this time use Ayman Al-Zawahiri's (UBL's right-hand man) eye glasses as the beacon for a strong RF return.  The pictures appear to show the eye glasses which contain metal frames.

Idea #3 - Electromagnetic Radiation from UBL's Kidney Dialysis Machine

[idea-3]

Usama Bin Ladin is thought to be travelling with a portable kidney dialysis machine.  I have no idea how those work, but there may be a distinct electromagnetic signature to the device which may be intercepted and located.

Idea #4 - Electromagnetic Radiation from UBL's Video Camera

[idea-4]

Similar to Idea #3, try to locate the horizontal synchronization (15.625 kHz PAL or 15.75 kHz NTSC), or other spurious radiation (14.318 MHz), from those stupid video cameras terrorists always seem to carry around.  This assumes handheld video cameras are not common in Afghanistan - which is probably a good bet.

A similar method could involve intercepting any magnetic bias oscillator leakage which is used in conventional audio tape recorders.

Of course, this requires the units to be in operation.

There is also the possibility of intercepting and DF'ing a transmitting walkie-talkie radio or satellite phones, though this is well known to everyone.

Idea #5 - Laser Ground Mapping to Detect Land Mines

[idea-5]

UBL is thought to surround his entourage of nut cases with land mines.  The distinct round shape of some types of land mines could be located via a sky-based laser mapping system, provided the mines are not buried.

I built a prototype laser-based ground mapper and it was sensitive enough to "hear" the ripples in corrugated cardboard.  Strong DSP post-processing could potentially turn the laser returns into an image.

Idea #6 - Non-Linear Junction Detector

This is a RF device which can be adapted to remotely detect metal objects.  This could be useful for detecting suicide bombers as they often use little bits of metal in their bomber belts.

This is also a good method of locating weapons caches in some areas/homes.

Idea #7 - Cellular Phone Detector

This is a RF receiving device which can be used to detect an operating cellular phone via its RF radiation.  It can also be used to detect an inactive cellular phone via its local oscillator leakage.  Cellular phones are often used as bomb timers or triggers for some types of bombs (U.K., Spain, Israel).  This is also handy for prisons or holding areas to detect any cellular phone activity which could be used to coordinate an uprising.

A more advanced version would include some type of direction finding device.  This would be very hand for locating who is setting off cellular phone activated IEDs.

Idea #8 - Doppler Stethoscope

Non-contact device to listen for mechanical movements through soft-sided items.

Idea #9 - High-Energy Radio Frequency (HERF)

It may be possible to use strong RF energy to detonate any land mines, IEDs, or even RPG grenades.  The RF wavelength would need to be tuned to "energize" any electronic detonators.

Another idea is to mount a hidden high-power microwave magnetron near the entryway on all the Mosques.  If you can fry their nutsack's, then no more baby terrorists!

Idea #10 - Detecting GPS Receivers

A terrorist using a consumer GPS receiver will emit a digital "noise" signal at 1.023 MHz.  This can be used to track their movments or identify them in crowds.

Idea #11 - Cellular Phone Jammers

To prevent the activation of some types of IEDs using cellular phone triggers, it is possible to jam the downlink (handset receive) frequencies in the immediate area.

Idea #12 - Terahertz Imaging

Terahertz scanner to view through clothing to detect watches or other jewlery.  Should be easy to distinguish those "rich" terrorists from the common folk in "poor" areas.  Another option is trying to detect the "glint" off a watch face or piece of jewlery.

  Note the watches/jewlery and microphone with a cable.

Idea #13 - Use Cheap Digital Cameras to Monitor Roadsides

[idea-6]

It might be possible to use cheap a digital camera and laptop computer, coupled with a some sort of software program to monitor roadsides for the placement of IEDs.  By taking several pictures, probably through some type of IR bandpass filter, you can compare the before and after pictures to detect any disturbances along a roadside which might have been because of the placement of an IED or other contraband.

A more advanced (and probably more useful) idea would be to use low-cost thermal imaging cameras.  Freshly "disturbed" areas would be at a different temperature than undisturbed areas.

Idea #14 - Exhaust Extension to Counter IR Activated IED

[idea-7]

Iranian-backed terrorists and the Irish Republican Army like to use IEDs which are activated by common infrared detecting intruder alarms.  It might be possible to counter these by using the exhaust from a HMMWV-type vehicle to prematurely detonate them.

Idea #15 - Counter-Sniper System Using HyperSonic Directional Sound

[idea-8]

An anti-sniper system can be built around an audio "gunshot" direction finding system and an American Technology Corporation Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD).  When a gunshot is detected, the controller points the LRAD towards the general location source of the incoming round.  Any person/shooter in the target area should be incapacitated from the intense sound source.  The physical act of covering ones ears should be enough to give away their position(s).

A similar system could be built using lasers or high-power spotlights to temporarily blind a sniper or to point out his location.

Another potential use for high-power ultrasonics is to disturb the chemical composion of explosives, maybe even neutralizing them or at least degrading them.

Idea #16 - Use Microwaves to Detect Explosives

Heat an area with a standard microwave oven magnetron and the check the temperature differences with a thermal imaging camera.  Hidden explosives and/or landmines should absorb the microwaves and increase in temperature via dielectric absorption.

Idea #17 - Family Radio Service ECM Device

It is possible to prematurely trigger or jam devices operated via standard consumer Family Radio Service (FRS) radio.

Idea #18 - Al-Jazeera Satellite Reception Jammer

This is a device which can be used to jam Al-Jazeera propaganda broadcasts.

Idea #19 - Use High-Frequency Sounds to Weed Out Children in Urban Combat

[idea-9]      20060808PalHumanShields02.jpg

      

As you get older your hearing starts to fade, especially in the high-frequency range (16-20 kHz).  A very high-powered ultrasonic "tone" generator pointed at a large group of people should immediately cause all the childern/women in the group to scatter and/or take some sort of cover.  The older people in the group will be unaffected.

Idea #20 - Use Large Magnets to Attract IEDs/Artillery Shells/Shrapnel

idea-10      [idea-11]

jir001020_1_p2.jpg      jir001020_1_p4.jpg

Use very powerful electromagnets to attract any metal objects alongside a roadway.  This could "pull out" hidden artillery shells/rockets/morters/IEDs or even attract plastic (or liquid) explosives laced with metal shrapnel or ball bearings, like what is commonly used in suicide bomber belts.

Idea #21 - Improvised Armor From Old Hard Drives

The surface coatings on hard drive platters appears to make them very resilient.  These could be easily adapted into improvised counter-IED armor.  Another good source of higher-quality improvised armor is by stealing it from any Eurosavage's military base.

Idea #22 - Portable EMP Device to Disrupt IEDs/Propaganda Broadcasts

[idea-12]

It might be possible to build a portable EMP device to disrupt the electronics inside an IED trigger device.  An autonomous robot version could "zap" the sides of a street or field.  It might even trigger any detonation cord or blastings caps.

Another useful idea for an EMP device is to destroy the video cameras terrorists use for their propaganda videos.  Ambushes are often recorded for propaganda and terrorist recruiting purposes.  Flooding a target area with a quick EMP burst could potentially destroy their video recording equipment, causing the liberal media to stomp their feet and cry.

Idea #23 - Use High-Power RF Energy to Cook Off AK47 Ammo

[idea-13]

Much like the Active Denial System which operates at 95 GHz to cause minor skin pain via dielectric absorption, it might be possible to prematurely set off AK47 ammunition.  A standard 7.62x39 mm round has an overall length of 55.8 mm.  This results in a resonant frequency of around 5.37 GHz.  If you could get the rounds hot enough, the primer might fire.

Idea #24 - Use High-Power Laser Designator to Blind Terrorist Pilots

[idea-14]

When you let Muslims on commercial airplanes, they are bound to try and hijack them.  If one of the hijackers takes control of the airplane, it could be possible to use a high-power laser designator or range finder to blind the pilot to allow for the non-Muslim crew or passengers to re-take control of the airplane.  This, at least, will give the passengers a chance to land the plane themselves in the event that the airplane crew is killed.

Idea #25 - Use Overhead Microwave RF Generator to Heat Ground and Detect IEDs

[idea-15]

Use an overhead low-flying aircraft to heat the ground using a very high-power 95 GHz CW illuminator.  Then view the area using thermal imaging and optical amplification.  Buried objects should be seen as a heat difference as they will absorb and radiate heat differently than the surrounding terrain.  Freshly disturbed terrain will also show up on thermal imaging.

Idea #26 - Jam GPS Signals on a Hijacked Airplane

If another plane could get near a hijacked airplane, or if the crew could activate an onboard system, it should be possible to jam the airplane's GPS navigational signals.  A hijacker probably isn't in a position to fly a long distance using only a map, so they would probably rely on using GPS or RF beacon navigation to get to their target.  By jamming these signals, you could provide valuable time for any anti-hijacking measures by confusing the pilot.


Notes & Pictures

                

  1. Symbols of Hate  DETIR's database of predominantly Jewish-controlled Zionist, extremist, terror and/or hate organizations.
  2. Usama Bin Laden & Ayman Al-Zawahiri  Note the metal glass frames, metal watches, metal rifle, and ring on UBL's finger.  All of these could be used for tracking.
  3. Usama Bin Laden on a Horse in Afghanistan  Horses have a distinct seismic signature.
  4. Detection of Command-Initiated Improvised Explosive Devices Using Unintentional Radiated Emissions
  5. Improvised Explosive Devices in Iraq: Effects and Countermeasures  (43k PDF)
  6. Pictures of Afghanistan IEDs  (64k PDF)
  7. Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Awareness Guide  TC 9-21-01(093-89D-01)  (3.1M PDF)
  8. Abbreviated Test Report for Blue Force Communications Electromagnetic Compatibility with WARLOCK-Green, WARLOCK-Red, and Self-Screening Vehicle Jammer Systems  (191k PDF)
  9. Force Protection: Buffalo Series
  10. RG-31 Nyala Mine Protected Vehicle
  11. Send it, and We'll Figure Out How to Use It  by Russell Seitz
  12. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) / Booby Traps
  13. Silly String: A Special Request From Troop
  14. Serious use for Silly String
  15. Halon Fire Extinguishers  Good for putting out chemical fires/burns.
  16. Bomb Jammer
  17. Fizzies  Give these to kids for intel.
  18. Kitup  Beyond standard issue.
  19. Fibre Glast Developments  Sells Kevlar fabric and "tape" for improvised soft-body armor.
  20. Goodyear Fortera SilentArmor Technology  Old tires can be a good source of Kevlar material.
  21. Soldier of Fortune Magazine
  22. Suicide Terrorism: A Global Threat
  23. Demining Links and Info
  24. Vibrations Could Reveal Landmine Locations
  25. TACARM  Tactical body armor to enhance IED protection and combat performance.
  26. Marines Ban Polyester Clothing in Iraq
  27. List of Gear for A-stan
  28. Other ideas include turning old cellular phones into seismic sensors to transmit the GPS coordinates of any people or vehicle movement.  Bin Laden wears custom-made English boots, these will have a distinct "seismic sound" which may be tracked.
  29. Terrorists smell.  Litter the ground with ammonia or other body odor detection devices.

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