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US Air Force is guarding against electromagnetic pulse attacks. Should we worry?
Live Science ^ | Edd Gent

Posted on 03/11/2021 9:48:20 AM PST by BenLurkin

Setting off a nuclear weapon about 200 miles (300 kilometers) above the U.S. could create an EMP that would cover most of North America, Pry said. The explosion and radiation from the bomb would dissipate before reaching ground level, but the resulting EMP would be powerful enough to destroy electronics across the region, Pry said. "If you were standing on the ground directly beneath the detonation, you wouldn't even hear it go off," Pry said. "The EMP would pass harmlessly through your body."

A small EMP with a radius of under a kilometer can also be generated by combining high-voltage power sources with antennas that release this energy as electromagnetic waves. The U.S. military has a prototype cruise missile carrying an EMP generator. Called the Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP), it can be used to target specific enemy facilities, and Pry said it would be within the capabilities of many militaries, or even terrorist groups, to build an EMP generator.

The technology required to protect against EMPs is similar to what is already used to prevent damage from power surges caused by lightning, Pry said. These technologies would have to be adapted to deal with higher voltages, but devices such as surge protectors, which divert excess voltage into the Earth, or Faraday cages, which shield devices from electromagnetic radiation, could do the job.

Pry said the EMP Commission estimated it would cost $2 billion to $4 billion to protect the most important pieces of equipment in the national grid, but ideally, he would like to see standards changed so that EMP protection is built into devices.

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: emp; usaf
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1 posted on 03/11/2021 9:48:20 AM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Oh noes, if the power goes out,, how will they ever be able to do all those transgender operations then? (This is a zing on hidens eo’s, not on the military]


2 posted on 03/11/2021 9:51:59 AM PST by Bob434
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To: BenLurkin

An EMP attack is a known possibility.

I’d be more worried if the AF WASN’T taking steps.

If they haven’t already, the other military services should be deep into upgrades also, not to mention the electrical grids.


3 posted on 03/11/2021 9:52:31 AM PST by Larry - Moe and Curly
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To: Bob434

Oh noes, if the power goes out,, how will they ever be able to do all those transgender operations then?
= = =

Muslims can, without electrical power.


4 posted on 03/11/2021 9:52:54 AM PST by Scrambler Bob (This is not /s. It is just as viable as any MSM 'information', maybe more so!)
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To: BenLurkin
he would like to see standards changed so that EMP protection is built into devices...

...which would be made in China!

5 posted on 03/11/2021 9:53:24 AM PST by null and void (The media decides what news you can see and NOT SEE. But don't you dare call 'em Not-Sees)
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To: BenLurkin

They are trying to gin up a fear similar to the Y2K panic from 6 digit dates. The threat is overblown as such an attack would not be a total knockout and retaliation will be guaranteed.


6 posted on 03/11/2021 9:53:55 AM PST by wildcard_redneck ( COVID lockdowns are the Establishment's attack on the middle class and our Republic)
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To: BenLurkin

My dad worked in electronics on AWACS. On a tour, about 30 years ago, he showed me on the plane how they protect it from EMP.

i.e. they’ve been doing this ever since they recognized there was a real risk.


7 posted on 03/11/2021 9:54:44 AM PST by cuban leaf (We killed our economy and damaged our culture. In 2021 we will pine for the salad days of 2020.)
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To: Larry - Moe and Curly

Back in the 90s when I was in the Army, and I have to assume well before my time, we were made very familiar with what equipment/vehicles were EMP hardened and which were not.


8 posted on 03/11/2021 9:54:47 AM PST by Joe 6-pack
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Only if you have kraptons of money invested in bitcoin


9 posted on 03/11/2021 9:55:02 AM PST by dsrtsage (Complexity is merely simplicity lacking imagination)
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To: BenLurkin

I know this is unrelated, but the fighter jet traffic over San Diego this week has been nonstop.


10 posted on 03/11/2021 9:55:11 AM PST by cdga5for4
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To: Bob434

My tractor was manufactured in 1960 so I’m good. :)


11 posted on 03/11/2021 9:55:19 AM PST by cuban leaf (We killed our economy and damaged our culture. In 2021 we will pine for the salad days of 2020.)
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To: Larry - Moe and Curly

With the carry-over Obama generals and Biden’s handlers in charge the country is naked as a jaybird.


12 posted on 03/11/2021 9:55:50 AM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: BenLurkin

Only if the protection fails. Lucky for us we have wind and solar for back up......... Oh!😯😱


13 posted on 03/11/2021 9:56:15 AM PST by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this?)
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I wouldn’t worry about it so much, but the sun is infinitely more powerful and anybody interested can look up Carrington Event


14 posted on 03/11/2021 9:57:54 AM PST by dsrtsage (Complexity is merely simplicity lacking imagination)
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To: BenLurkin
If the Air Force can't protect us against Biden's friends, then how can they protect us against an EMP?

'We're going to lose fast': U.S. Air Force held a war game that started with a Chinese biological attack


15 posted on 03/11/2021 10:15:12 AM PST by Responsibility2nd (Trump is a deposed Pres. in exile. America is truly a banana republic. Our govt. has been overthrown)
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To: BenLurkin

Oh PLEASE! All we need are the nutcases to come out of the woodwork with their EMP paranoia. So, again, I’ll have to add some TRUTH here:

Like it or not, the odds of surviving one year after an EMP are about 1 in 100, that’s FAR BETTER than the odds of winning the Lottery, which is 1 in many millions.

So, there is no need for people to be so PARANOID about EMPs, given that most people play the Lottery, DESPITE those odds.


16 posted on 03/11/2021 10:16:09 AM PST by BobL (TheDonald.win is now Patriots.win)
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To: BenLurkin
I retired from the USAF in 2005. From the time I entered in 1981 we had taken steps to lessen the impacts of an EMP event. This is nothing new whatsoever.

The bog news would be if the DoD was ignoring EMP.

17 posted on 03/11/2021 10:18:44 AM PST by commish (Freedom tastes Sweetest to those who have fought to preserve it!)
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To: Bob434

Major parts for our electric grid system are made in China... one EMP attack and it’s estimated close to 90% of our population will be dead within the first year.


18 posted on 03/11/2021 10:19:20 AM PST by GOPJ ("If America falls, where will YOU go?" - - Michael Flynn )
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To: GOPJ

My 67 Chevy should work but the gas pumps won’t LOL.


19 posted on 03/11/2021 10:21:47 AM PST by nascarnation
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To: GOPJ

True that. If I can’t microwave, then Im Doomed. Seriously though. If grocery stores can’t operate, people panic, wipe them clean of food (like we saw with the pandemic), and th e n what? Most people won’t know how to survive, especially in winter months with no heat, no food to pick off the shelves.

Preppers will be OK for awhile, till people find out they have food that is. Unless they are well armed.


20 posted on 03/11/2021 10:25:10 AM PST by Bob434
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