The CIA used a secret technology called 'Ghost Murmur' to locate a downed American pilot in Iran. The technology was deployed to find a wounded weapons systems officer, known publicly as 'Dude 44 Bravo', who had been shot down over Southern Iran. The pilot was hiding in a mountain cave or crevice after his F-15 fighter jet was shot down last week, surviving for two days in harsh terrain while Iranian troops scoured the area. According to Daily Mail - Science & Tech, one individual described Ghost Murmur as hearing a voice in a stadium, except the stadium is a thousand square miles of desert.
Ghost Murmur uses long-range quantum magnetometry to detect heartbeats. The tool scans for the electromagnetic fingerprint of the human heart, according to major media reports. The data is filtered through artificial intelligence software to isolate an individual signature from background noise. According to Daily Mail - Science & Tech, the same individual described that in the right conditions, if your heart is beating, we will find you.
One individual described Ghost Murmur as 'hearing a voice in a stadium, except the stadium is a thousand square miles of desert.'
Quantum magnetometry is a cutting-edge technique that can detect extremely subtle variations in magnetic fields, according to major media reports. These sensitive instruments work by firing lasers through specially created artificial diamonds to probe atom-sized imperfections known as colour centres, which react on the quantum level to magnetic fields, according to major media reports. Advances in quantum magnetometry, specifically sensors built around microscopic defects in synthetic diamonds, have made it possible to detect heartbeat signals at dramatically greater distances. Normally, the heartbeat signal is so weak it can only be measured in a hospital setting with sensors pressed nearly against the chest.
Ghost Murmur was developed by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division. Skunk Works is Lockheed Martin's secretive advanced development division, responsible for creating the U-2 and Blackbird spy planes, according to major media reports.
In the right conditions, if your heart is beating, we will find you.
Dude 44 Bravo activated a Boeing-made Combat Survivor Evader Locator beacon, but his precise whereabouts remained unknown until detected by Ghost Murmur. Normally, the heartbeat signal is so weak it can only be measured in a hospital setting with sensors pressed nearly against the chest, making this rescue particularly challenging.
The relatively barren landscape made for an ideal first operational use of Ghost Murmur. The capability is not omniscient; it works best in remote, low-clutter environments and requires significant processing time. According to Daily Mail - Science & Tech, the source described the barren landscape as providing an ideal first operational use of Ghost Murmur. According to Daily Mail - Science & Tech, the source described that due to low electromagnetic interference, the desert presented about as clean an environment as you could ask for with almost no other human signatures. The environment was ideal due to low electromagnetic interference, almost no competing human signatures, and thermal contrast at night between a living body and the desert floor, providing a secondary confirmation layer, according to a source.
The barren landscape provided 'an ideal first operational use' of Ghost Murmur.
It was unclear how long the processing time was in this use, according to The Post's sources. The source did not know how long these processing times were or whether they were short enough to make Ghost Murmur practical in offensive operations, according to a source.
The technology has been successfully tested on Black Hawk helicopters for future potential use on F-35 fighter jets, according to a source with knowledge of Lockheed Martin intelligence collection tools. It is unclear if the technology may have additional wartime offensive uses.
Due to low electromagnetic interference, the desert presented 'about as clean an environment as you could ask for' with almost no other human signatures.
Typically, quantum magnetometry is used to look at very large objects, like the interior of distant planets, or tiny ones, according to major media reports.
It was the tool's first use in the field by the spy agency, according to research.
Normally the heartbeat signal is so weak it can only be measured in a hospital setting with sensors pressed nearly against the chest.
President Trump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe alluded to the tool at a White House briefing on Monday afternoon, according to research. The name 'Ghost Murmur' is deliberate: 'Murmur' is a clinical term for a heart rhythm, and 'Ghost' refers to finding someone who has disappeared, according to a source.