Posted on 02/01/2010 11:23:59 PM PST by 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. Irans 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 complicationsand likely failureof a lofted EMP strike.
(Excerpt) Read more at thespacereview.com ...
http://nipp.org/National%20Institute%20Press/Current%20Publications/PDF/EMP%20Paper%20Final%20November07.pdf
Report on Emerging EMP threat-This works!
Ping
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
The metal cake box or metal storage can seems to give minimum saftey
Yes, that is a problem with very few solutions.
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
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.
Good Point. I agree
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 NKs 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
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.
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.
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