Physics911, by Scientific Panel Investigating Nine-Eleven, 9/11/2001

Electronic & Electromagnetic Warfare & Weapons Systems

Consider, for a second, the manufacturer’s warning about placing metal objects in a microwave oven – and, if you have personal experience with the results of having made this mistake. This is the same effect upon which the principle of electromagnetic and electronic warfare is based. By directing microwave and similar radiation at an enemy target, it is quite possible to damage or disable enemy property.

Electronic or Electromagnetic Warfare is the aggressive application of electromagnetic radiation for the purposes of damaging enemy assets or use of the electromagnetic spectrum, either directly or by induced current.

The shape of Electronic Warfare can be considered a direct descendent of RADAR warfare, in the sense that similar measure and countermeasures are necessary to protect each side in an escalating technological arms race. Please refer to our page on RADAR Systems.

An EMP Bomb

at left is a diagram for a generic EMP bomb (or E-Bomb). The ‘bomb’ contains a battery and capacitor bank – not a very efficient way of doing things. The most effective bombs of a similar form factor would employ an explosive charge that fires a stator (or coil assembly) across a series of magnets at high speed – generating an electromagnetic field orders of magnitude greater.

HPM style EMP Bombs

Specific E-Bomb packages showing specific pattern of EM exposure for different deployments. HPM emitters in the package are the active element.

Civilian Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Protest Applications of Microwave Radiation (crowd control)

The Active Denial System (ADS) is a non-lethal, directed-energy weapon developed by the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies. It is a strong millimeter-wave transmitter primarily used for crowd control (the "goodbye effect"). Some ADS systems such as HPEM ADS are also used to disable vehicles.[3] Informally, the weapon is also called pain ray. Raytheon is currently marketing a reduced-range version of this technology. The ADS is currently being considered for deployment in the Iraq War

The Invisible Machine:
Electromagnetic Warfare

A presentation originally featured on the History Channel™ – a dramatized civilian’s overview of the effects of electromagnetic pulse weapons including real demonstrations of current military EMP technology. Contains scenarios demonstrating the effect on civilian life in the event of a large scale catastropic EMP blast over a major city or section of the continent.

VIDEO: Demonstration of Electromagnetic Pulse Bomb

A for the public documentary on existing US military weapons. A general overview of the technology as well as two demonstrations are given – one on a model helicopter and one on a real car. In both cases critical circuits are ‘fried’ and neither vehicle can be restarted.

REFERENCES

Wikidpedia’s Page on Electronic Warfare

Air Force Doctrine Document on Electronic Warfare

Electro-magnetic Pulse (EMP) Systems

Airborne Microwave Weapon Destroys Electronics

Wave Guided Pulse Electromagnetic Pulse Beam

Radar System Engineering, volume 1 of MIT Radiation Laboratory Series (PDF)

MIT Radiation Laboratry Series