Dawn of the E-bomb?

The Dawn of the E-Bomb

For the wired world, the allure and the danger of high-power microwave weapons are both very real

By Michael Abrams

In these media-fueled times, when war is a television spectacle and wiping out large numbers of civilians is generally frowned upon, the perfect weapon would literally stop an enemy in his tracks, yet harm neither hide nor hair. Such a weapon might shut down telecommunications networks, disrupt power supplies, and fry an adversary's countless computers and electronic gadgets, yet still leave buildings, bridges, and highways intact. It would strike with precision, in an instant, and leave behind no trace of where it came from.

In fact, it almost certainly is already here, in the form of high-power microwave (HPM) weapons. As their name suggests, HPMs generate an intense "blast" of electromagnetic waves in the microwave frequency band (hundreds of megahertz to tens of gigahertz) that is strong enough to overload electrical circuitry. Most types of matter are transparent to microwaves, but metallic conductors, like those found in metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS), metal-semiconductor, and bipolar devices, strongly absorb them, which in turn heats the material.

An HPM weapon can induce currents large enough to melt circuitry. But even less intense bursts can temporarily disrupt electrical equipment or permanently damage ICs, causing them to fail minutes, days, or even weeks later. People caught in the burst of a microwave weapon would, by contrast, be untouched and might not even know they'd been hit. (There is, however, an effort to build a microwave weapon for controlling crowds; a person subjected to it definitely feels pain and is forced to retreat.)

www.globalsecurity.org...

Wasn't there a huge fuss before the war in Iraq started about these things? In theory, they sound like the perfect weapon, they disable the enemy's electronic equipment and don't kill civilians.

I agree with your last sentance that in theory they do sound like the perfect weapon as the enemy would be able to inhabit the land after a bomb was dropped. Without the fear of radiation from something like a nuclear bomb

Originally posted by Paradigm
The Dawn of the E-Bomb

In theory, they sound like the perfect weapon, they disable the enemy's electronic equipment and don't kill civilians.

Ya but could they not also be tuned to fry a mass of people??
Indeed they do sound like the perfect weapon ...

And if you wanted to get rid of a large amount of people aka china's army, i say use the neutron bomb.Imagin having only 3 of those things against china,whipe out there army,and we can get to keep the thanks.

Stupid question: What about people with pacemakers?

Its not the perfect weapon in todays warfare. The US, as you all probably know, is coming out with the F-22 Raptor. This revolutionary aircraft will have a cockpit built of glass and all displays will be LCD. One blast from one of these suckers and the equipment is destroyed, and manual overrides are difficult. They same can be said for all high-tech machinery.

Electromagnetic weapons are most effective on a sophisticated high tech enemy. They are not the least bit of good against terrorists on bicycles with AK47s.

I believe the biggest threat would be towards the US. If you can knock out the power grid and communications, the whole US military would grind to a halt very quickly.

So these EMP weapons in terrorist hands might be very effective indeed at wiping out selected targets, and it could be done from a mobile van.

This technology is not new, a lot of the research goes back to the 1950's. Flux compression generators, and virtual cathode oscillators have been around for a long time. The technology is cheap DIY at home in the garage stuff. That is what has everyone so scared.

emp's are quite cheap to make too, i've heard they can be made for as little as $350

Its just another version of the neutron bomb.


regards
seekerof

a simple thought
One of the stated aims of "shock and awe" was the destruction of the enemies means to communicate. We sit here months on and look back at that footage - J-DAMS converted to hauling concrete against TV centers.

Whats wrong here - the US had amazing non nuclear munitions - designed with the sole aim of eliminating C&C and Propaganda - but didnt use it ?

Ok lets look at the other side - these weapons prevent the dissemination of US propaganda into the war zone because they have destroyed the communications infrastructure.

You cant have your cake and eat it it seems

I have no doubt that EMP was a 70s weapon of choice - but today Im sorry too much is lost employing such weapons in a limited theatre environment as indeed all wars will be from now on.

Originally posted by tmrh

Originally posted by Paradigm
The Dawn of the E-Bomb

In theory, they sound like the perfect weapon, they disable the enemy's electronic equipment and don't kill civilians.

Ya but could they not also be tuned to fry a mass of people??

Indeed they do sound like the perfect weapon ...

well itll kill any person with a pace maker

Originally posted by Seekerof
Its just another version of the neutron bomb.

No not Really! The Neutorn Bomb or N-Bomb (as some people call it) is a Nuclear Weapon just like an A-Bomb or an H-bomb it contains Plutonium and other Radioactive isotoped. The E-bomb is NOT.

E-bombs are design to destroy electronics such as communication networks. These weapons don't even explode. Unless you have a pacemacker the E-bomb is absolutly harmless to you. If you were sitting next to one when it went off, the only thing you'd notice is your watch would stop and your cell phone would be fried.

Thanks Ghost, you beat me to the punch on the N-Bomb/E-Bomb clarification.

Originally posted by Pherophile
...the F-22 Raptor. This revolutionary aircraft will have a cockpit built of glass and all displays will be LCD. One blast from one of these suckers and the equipment is destroyed, and manual overrides are difficult...

2 points I'd like to make:

1. F-22's electronics systems are protected from EMP by being in metal enclosures called Faraday Cages.

2. The E-Bombs in US inventory are cruise missiles (hundreds of miles range) and JDAM's (can glide into target from 10+ miles away).

The range of the delivery systems therefore make your concern a non-issue.

Well if these are high-power microwave weapons -- whats to stop them from affecting humans?? Not that I know much about them - but if there is, to quote paradigm "an effort to build a microwave weapon for controlling crowds; a person subjected to it definitely feels pain and is forced to retreat.)" - could they not be tuned at standard microwave type frequencies like ur home microwave and be used 2 fry ppl ??

Weapons like this could be used by cyber terrorists. Instead of breaking in to a large government agency, the cyber terrorists could use a device like this to knock out the agency.

This could have caused the Blackouts