The EMP threat: fact, fiction, and response (part 2)

The Space Review ^ | 2/1/2010 | Yousaf M. Butt

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

What appears to be of particular concern to the EMP commission is the scepter of terrorist groups or so-called “rogue” nations carrying out such an attack. As outlined by Dr. Pry, one of the commissioners, before a 2005 Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security, “[a] nuclear missile concealed in the hold of a freighter would give Iran, or terrorists, the capability to perform an EMP attack against the United States homeland, without developing an ICBM, and with some prospect of remaining anonymous. Iran’s Shahab-3 medium-range missile… is a mobile missile, and small enough to be transported in the hold of a freighter.” However, as mentioned above, such missiles have a payload capacity of approximately 1,000 kilograms corresponding to a crude U-based warhead of ~1 kiloton yield if, and when, the Iranians eventually develop nuclear weapons. Even the North Koreans, who are much further along in their weapons program, have had great difficulty reaching even a ~5 kiloton yield from their Pu-based devices in carefully orchestrated ground-tests, and their 2009 test was likely a fizzle.

If a terrorist cell miraculously built such a weapon, they are likely to explode their “crown jewel” in a simple spectacular ground-burst that will destroy a large part of a city, and not risk the complications—and likely failure—of a lofted EMP strike.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

http://nipp.org/National%20Institute%20Press/Current%20Publications/PDF/EMP%20Paper%20Final%20November07.pdf Report on Emerging EMP threat

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

http://nipp.org/National%20Institute%20Press/Current%20Publications/PDF/EMP%20Paper%20Final%20November07.pdf
Report on Emerging EMP threat-This works!

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ping

[wastedyears]

If they detonate on NYC soil, do what you have to do first then take out the terrorists. I’m in NYC and am likely one of their worst fears.

[Cold Heat]

My understanding of a EMP that would be effective over a large area would require expertise that your common Mullah or NK wacko would not have. A standard air burst could take down communications and the power grid but it would not destroy the capability for long. China and Russia would be the only ones with the capability of creating a EMP with the ability to blackout the US. They would have to design multiple nuclear shape or focused charges on a MIRV and that takes a lot of engineering.

This would be the best tactic if one were to desire a knockout punch. I am guessing we have it. If we don't, we should.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Well, the Iranians and North Koreans are fast approaching the capability. If there is a EMP everything from microchips to who entire grids would be totally destroyed. That why if there is a nuclear attack the first sign of an impending attack will be an EMP burst

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

To prevent EMP,shield each radio against EMP when not in use by completely surrounding it with conducting metal if it is kept within six feet of a long conductor through which powerful currents produced by EMP might surge. A radio may be shielded against EMP by placing it inside a metal cake box or metal storage can, or by completely surrounding it with aluminum foil or metallic window screen.

[Cold Heat]

Well yeah, I suppose but whatever they manage to damage, would not affect the military com's or command and control in my humble opinion.

I am not expert in the field and know little more than the average joe, but I do have a electrical background. Communications is easy to disrupt, but harder to destroy.

Older stuff was not well shielded, but the late model equipment is hardened a bit, even the civilian stuff. We had a lot of issues with sun spots over the years and they made it much better.

Car electronics are another story. There is no ground path to the earth, and the excess voltage generated by a EMP would require aviation shielding.

Anyhoo, I could see a metro area going dark, or even a large portion of the power grid for a time, until they got the controls reset and the generators back in sync, but the damage would not be permanent from a air burst of tactical or medium size. I don't think the NK's, terrorists or Iranians could field anything bigger and they could get better results on the ground. As to the big boys, they could take us out but it would take a biggun......IMO.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I don't think the NK's, terrorists or Iranians could field anything bigger and they could get better results on the ground. As to the big boys, they could take us out but it would take a biggun......IMO.

Not now, but the rate they are going maybe 5-10 years. There is now way to find out because there are no intelligence inside their atomic failities

[Cold Heat]

Just covering the device will not do you much good. The EMP voltage is created in the related wiring. This could be the antennae or the input power wiring to any device even is shielded. This is why power is often affected by a large sunspot, which is in effect a EMP. It's the lines that are affected and the power spike knocks out the sensors and the monitors that control the grid. Then the generators are damaged by the loss of control, even though they might be hardened or shielded.

The EMP spike is created as the electromagnetic pulses cross the wires and create a transient voltage spike in the several thousands of volts range. This can arc to anything within inches and even feet, and that is how the devices get damaged and people too.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The metal cake box or metal storage can seems to give minimum saftey

[Cold Heat]

There is now way to find out because there are no intelligence inside their atomic facilities

Yes, that is a problem with very few solutions.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

You are correct.Keep all unshielded radios at least six feet away from any long piece of metal, such as pipes, metal ducts, or wires found in many basements and other shelters. Long metal conductors can pick up and carry large EMP surges, causing induced current to surge in nearby radios and damage them

[Cold Heat]

Depends on what you cover. If it's a self contained radio or cell phone type battery operated device, then yes, you do get a degree of protection, but the cell transmitter, and the radio transmitter at the towers can't be covered up with tinfoil and don't have aviation type shields on their wiring. These have to be tied to a large grounding grid in the earth and older ones will not have it, but newer ones do in many cases. Depends on how much they exceeded FCC guidelines. Unfortunately, the only lines grounded on a power distribution grid are the neutrals, and that is by design. You can't ground or shield the hot legs. The spike will feed into anything plugged in or attached to the system and it will overload most devices designed to prevent a spike because of the arcing and size of the spike so there goes you computer power supplies unless you have a UPS system which will not let it go beyond it.

A good UPS backup system does more then just allow to to save your work during a power outage. It isolates the machine from the power grid.

Just one good suggestion but the Internet would be down anyway but you would save the computer.

I think a ersatz cheap EMP would do some damage to a locality, but we are a big country. The damage would be quickly fixed. The terrorist of wannabe superpower would likely decide that if they had one shot, it would be better placed on the ground.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Good Point. I agree

[Cold Heat]

Pipes and metal ducts can pick up a charge, but they are usually grounded via current electrical codes. The reason the power wires are so sensitive to EMP is that they are not solid wire. They are comprised of dozens or even hundreds of individual conductors bundled together. As the field passes through it creates a lot of juice. It's acts like a generator. The power lines are spaces apart as they are to prevent them from creating their own EMP’s from the alternating current they carry normally. They don't have a chance against a strong emp and are the first thing affected along with radio transmissions..

[familyop]

Iran readies launch of new satellite
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2382720/posts

Iran military engineers on hand for N. Korea missile launch
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1664760/posts
(7/12/06)

10 Iranian Missile Engineers Visited N. Korea:Sankei reports(check on NK’s Chinese equipments)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1658850/posts
(07/01/06)

Russia, N.Korea, China give Iran missile aid -CIA
09/08/01
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/519198/posts

[Cold Heat]

I am wondering if this big surprise that the Nutjob announced for the 12th or thereabouts, is not another so called satellite launch.

[familyop]

It depends on how high the hypothetical device would be detonated. 300 miles up could be a problem. Although the historically tested nuclear weapons bursts low in the atmosphere wouldn’t affect equipment far to the sides of a burst (heavy atmosphere down low), the atmosphere over the top of us gets thin pretty quick. Simple physical example... Those of you who live on mountain ranges can actually see and feel the difference.

[Cold Heat]

BTW, I am somewhat unconvinced that NK has much of a nuke capability. Our spy guys are not saying much, except the standard line of quoting the South Korean intel which has confirmed nuke detonations on their tests, but we are not saying how good the reactions were, and they can gauge it.

I think they are having problems with their triggers, and that takes some doing. I think triggers are the only thing Iran needs to complete theirs.