Lightning Gun Company: New Name, Old Game

If at first you don't succeed, change names and start again. DANGER ROOM's favorite lightning weapons-maker, Ionatron, has announced it's changing names to Applied Energetics Co. and focusing on more than just lightning weapons. The Arizona Daily Star reports:

The former Ionatron focused on developing directed-energy products for the U.S. government. Last August, the company was awarded a $1
million contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Crane (Ind.)
Division, for technology to defeat improvised explosive devices.The new company, however, will broaden its reach to include manufacturing high- performance lasers, optical systems and guided-energy systems, executives said.

Actually, I kind of liked the name Ionatron; I thought it was the best thing going for the company. But I guess officials wanted to distance themselves from a history of shady deals, canceled contracts, and alleged insider trading. Oh yes, and as the Arizona Daily Star article also

noted:

The name change also further distances the company from its past, which included a shareholder suit in July 2006 under different management alleging former executives made false statements about an anti-bomb device. The case, filed in U.S. District Court for the
District of Arizona, is ongoing.

Don't worry, DANGER ROOM remains 100 percent committed to continuing coverage of the company formerly known as Ionatron.

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