This Photo Does Not Show a Recently Used Direct Energy Weapon in Turkey
The Claim
The image shows a Direct Energy Weapon used in Turkey recently .
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Emerging story
Social media users have circulated an image claiming that it shows the Direct Energy Weapon DEW used in Turkey recently.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar has investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The image was not taken in Turkey or England and does not depict a Direct Energy Weapon.
Old Image of Falcon 9 Rocket
Misbar’s team found that the photo dates back to at least 2018. It shows the Falcon 9 rocket launching from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
According to Digital Trends, SpaceX logged there was a successful mission blasting seven satellites into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. “While the company did achieve its primary objective of safely delivering its payload into space, it failed to achieve its secondary objective: recovering a reusable section of the rocket known as the fairing,” Drew Prindle wrote in a blog post for Digital Trends.
According to an “ARS Technica” blog, “NASA awarded a launch contract to SpaceX on July 8 for the launch of a small astrophysics mission, as the company offered a previously flown Falcon 9 at a lower price than a much smaller rocket.”
What Is the Falcon 9 Rocket?
Falcon 9 is “a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond.” Reusability of the most expensive parts of the rocket drives down the cost of space access.
What Is a Direct Energy Weapon?
Direct Energy Weapons DEW, described as weapons of war, are a potential alternative to hypersonic weapons defense. These systems use emitters to destroy another system or disrupt its electronics as they can be mounted on fighter aircraft and used for attack. Direct energy weapons consist of a high-energy laser, high-power radio frequency, or microwave device.
In August 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense said it is partnering with the private sector to develop high-powered laser and microwave weapons. The weapons would be used on the battlefield or in military defense scenarios to attack drones and rockets, defend aircraft against missiles, or intercept ballistic missile threats.
However, our team did not find reliable sources confirming that Turkey has recently used Direct Energy Weapons.
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