No speculation to it, it is a real and working weapon, i read an article a while back in Scientific American about it. When it detonates above it's target it creates a powerful electromagnetic pulse which fries electrical devices within it's relatively short range. No fantasy here, it is proven working technology, and apprently it is of some concern to the Western Allies as it is an easy weapon to make.

EDIT: Spelling

[edit on 21-3-2005 by twitchy]

I've heard about 'em... If you make a powerful one like twitchy said you could practically shut down a town/city. Im going film now, but wasnt something like an EMP bomb used in "Escape from LA" lol he basically sent the world back to the Dark Ages if memory serves.... so is making something like this a wise idea?

Well, no weapons are good ideas.

but we build them anyway.

Originally posted by rapier28
Well, no weapons are good ideas.

but we build them anyway.

Touché!

You can harden electronics from such an attack, and Optronics would be unaffected with or without hardening. It's a bit over the horizon but is coming soon.

Sardion,

I would beg to differ on it being "a bit over the horizon".

I am led to believe that is has actually already been used in combat over Iraq.

Cheers

BHR

Oh Militarily that is a given, I was talking about for the rest of us

Does an Electro-Magnetic-Pulse have any affect on a human at all? Even if we were within feet of it disrupting a power-station? My logic being the fact that the human body is run by electrical signals interpreted and served-out by the brain... So therefor by removing the electrical signals we would simply die...

What would happen?

Originally posted by ghostsoldier
Does an Electro-Magnetic-Pulse have any affect on a human at all? Even if we were within feet of it disrupting a power-station? My logic being the fact that the human body is run by electrical signals interpreted and served-out by the brain... So therefor by removing the electrical signals we would simply die...

What would happen?

Obviously not, but a good question. I'd be more worried about electronics exploding around me [to a small degree], starting fires etc...

It is possible to build a much smaller version of one of these, the idea has been around for a while.

Aren't there 2 types of EMP weapons microwave, and the conventional explosive with a stator coil?

I have heard about EMP cruise missles that basically use a microwavewhich produces a big EMP wave. I think thought I heard that Tomahawks with an EMP setup have been used in Iraq.

I have also heard rumors that the SAS have EMP hand grenades Does anyone know anymore about that?

There are fears terrorists could build the conventional type and knock out computers, data centers , financial exchanges etc... I would imagine that some are looking to measures to thwart such an attack?

I would think that in time EMP protection will just be engineered into everything rendering the weapons useless, but maybe not.

The SAS don't have EMP grenades. EMP bombs are relitivly easy to build, compared to other weapons. One could be used over an city in the world and all electronics would be destroyed...

Given the popular viewpoint that this is an easily produced and working weapon couldn't a well organized and co-ordinated strike with such devices have the potential to render the electronic systems of a country's nuclear assets useless?? Cheaper than son of starwars?

Originally posted by Nexus
The SAS don't have EMP grenades. EMP bombs are relitivly easy to build, compared to other weapons. One could be used over an city in the world and all electronics would be destroyed...

How do you know that they dont have EMP grenades? Are you a SAS trooper?

Originally posted by warpboost
Aren't there 2 types of EMP weapons microwave, and the conventional explosive with a stator coil?

I have heard about EMP cruise missles that basically use a microwavewhich produces a big EMP wave. I think thought I heard that Tomahawks with an EMP setup have been used in Iraq.

I have also heard rumors that the SAS have EMP hand grenades Does anyone know anymore about that?

There are fears terrorists could build the conventional type and knock out computers, data centers , financial exchanges etc... I would imagine that some are looking to measures to thwart such an attack?

I would think that in time EMP protection will just be engineered into everything rendering the weapons useless, but maybe not.

Cruise missiles are supposed to use the HPM ( High Pump Microwave )warhead.

As for an EMP grenade what would be the point any emp device that small would have bugger all effective radius, the HE would do more damage than EMP. Anyway HE is much more effecient at destruction on scales of that size.

That's not to say they don't have some type of EMP device, it would just have to be a fair bit bigger to be effective.

Rogue,

How do you know the radius of an EMP grenade.

As to using an HE grenade instead, what if you actually needed the room afterwards???

Cheers

BHR