Boffins are developing a new drone which wipes out the computers and electrics in a building but does not harm people.

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing successfully tested the weapon on a one-hour flight during which it knocked out the computers of an entire military compound in the Utah desert. The missile can penetrate the bunkers and caves believed to be hiding Iran’s suspected nuclear facilities, but could do some serious damage to anyone else if the weapon falls into the wrong hands.

The missile flew low over the Utah Test and Training Range, discharging electromagnetic pulses on to seven targets, permanently shutting down their electronics. The test worked so well that even the camera recording the event was disabled.

Dubbed the Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP), it is the first time a missile with electromagnetic pulse capability has been tested. The missile is believed to be equipped with an electromagnetic pulse cannon. This uses a super-powerful microwave oven to generate a concentrated beam of energy which causes voltage surges in electronic equipment.

Surge protectors have the chance to react and computers fry.