Correct. An EMP weapon has never been used, the best we have is educated speculation. It would be effective but not nationwide
but I know for a fact that American weapons systems have been hardened for years against this possibility. We would know who did it (terrorists don't yet have the capability to detonate an EMP weapon over Iowa, and won't for years) and I'm sure would retaliate in a way that the perpetrator would never forget.
No retaliation would be possible if EMP armed cruise missiles were fired from ships off the East Coast that would be scuttled and sunk after firing off the missile. One EMP missile each for New York, Washington, Boston would create plenty of chaos
Correct. An EMP weapon has never been used, the best we have is educated speculation.
From http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/emp-terror.htm
“The existence of the electromagnetic pulse has been known since the 1940's when nuclear weapons were being developed and tested. However, because of lack of data, the effects of an EMP were not fully known until 1962. At this time, the United States was conducting a series of high-altitude atmospheric tests, code named "Fishbowl." The nuclear explosion, "Starfish Prime," which was detonated in the Pacific Ocean 800 miles from Hawaii, caused an EMP that disrupted radio stations and electrical equipment throughout Hawaii. Consequently, in 1963, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Atmospheric Test Ban Treaty to counter the considerable threat posed by EMPs. Unfortunately, the destructive potential of an EMP increases everyday as society becomes evermore technological because of an escalating dependence on electronics. “