Re: MIL: EMP and future C3I

From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Feb 21 2003 - 21:19:54 MST

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    --- Greg Burch <gregburch@gregburch.net> wrote:
    > An article I can now only find on Drudge's archives:
    http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2003/02/20/20030220_152033_flash3.htm
    >
    > Reports on the U.S. military's reluctance to use what seems to be
    > some kind of new non-nuclear EMP device because of concerns about
    > damage to civilian infrastructure. This led me to wonder about the
    > impact of EMP weapons on many of the weapon systems I see being
    > developed, especially
    > UAVs, other unmanned combat platforms and the generally fast-evolving
    > C3I architecture of the future battlefield. If we can EMP them, what
    > stops them from EMPing us? Aren't UAVs very exposed to EMP
    > countermeasures? How difficult is it to make a big, non-nuclear EMP?
    > I know some on the list must know why this isn't a no-starter ...

    Big as in HOW big? You can create short bursts in very narrow loci and
    at short range that will fry circuitry with ordinary solid state
    electronics and electromagnetics (essentially a souped up microwave
    oven). For a stronger pulses, recall that, like with Radio transmission
    stations, to double your effective range, you have to cube your
    effective power.

    DARPA has been experimenting with TNT explosion powered EMP generators
    for several years with interesting results, but they do not
    discriminate between military and civilian devices within their
    effective range.

    UAV's, flying at altitudes of several thousand feet, are outside the
    effective range of non-nuke EMP weapons, which have ranges of less than
    several hundred yards. Such a warhead might be useful for a proximity
    warhead on a SAM, however.

    EMP weapons are useless against fiber optic networks whose
    electrical/electronic components are TEMPEST shielded.

    =====
    Mike Lorrey
    "Live Free or Die, Death is not the Worst of Evils."
                                                         - Gen. John Stark
    "Pacifists are Objectively Pro-Fascist." - George Orwell
    "Treason doth never Prosper. What is the Reason?
    For if it Prosper, none Dare call it Treason..." - Ovid

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