[HPM] High-Powered Microwave Weapon

High-Powered Microwave Weapon

A microwave orb tailing an Aurelian F-22

ORIGIN: (Real World)
United States of America

GAMES FEATURED IN:
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception

COMPATIBLE AIRCRAFT
Fenrir

OVERVIEW:
The HPM is a two-fold system. One microwave transmitter is located in Archelon Fortress. Other transmitters are mounted on Leasath's high-tech fighter aircraft, the Fenrir. When microwaves are emitted from both sources, a visible disturbance can be seen where they overlap. The disturbance appears as a purple-colored ball of energy, with lightning-like rays shooting off from the center of the ball. Should anything be caught moving slow enough to be targeted by the HPM's tracking system, a ball (many can be generated at a time) will be directed to the slow moving object(s). The microwaves cause increased vibration within fuel particles, eventually leading to extreme heating to cause an explosion.

To avoid being targeted, it is necessary for one to be maneuvering at a speed of at least 1000 km/h (about 600 mph). If satellites located around Cobalt Cave, where the HPM was manufactured, are not destroyed, in Mission 14B "Offline", the microwaves' targeting system is enhanced. Once enveloped in the area of microwave overlap, it takes 8 seconds of constant heating for the aircraft's fuel to ignite.

A diagram depicting the HPM system. As stated, the microwave beams are controlled from the ground.

Once all Fenrir aircraft are destroyed, the HPM can no longer operate, as there is only one source of microwave energy emitting it.

Sources:
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
Globalsecurity Official Site, for the real life HPM article

Accreditation:
X-49 for the explanatory pic
-Red-Knight- for the modified explanation image.
Jubinator for the in game pic