Russian. Former Soviet Union was the first who successfully. developed HPM weapon, and was far ahead of other countries. on the research of HPM source
ieeexplore.ieee.org...

HPM uses. Until the 1970s, HPM technology was impractical. Over the next two decades, however, developments in plasma physics, energy storage, and the technology of switching devices made these weapons systems viable around the time the Cold War came to an end. The Soviets invested more research in the field than did the West, a logical choice because HPM weaponry is more useful to the less technologically advanced side. The more sophisticated a nation's weapons systems, and the more reliant on microprocessors, the more vulnerable these potentially are to HPM.

Russian authorities claimed that in 1995, Chechnyan rebels used HPM to subvert a Russian security system and gain entry to a restricted-access area. Four years later, the Russians maintained that United States forces used HPM weapons to disable Yugoslav communications during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) campaign in Kosovo.

Carbon-graphite coils capable of generating an electromagnetic pulse used to destroy electronics equipment—especially communications equipment—can be fitted to cruise missiles. Carbon-graphite equipped cruise missiles were used by U.S.-led forces in raids on Baghdad, Iraq, in 1991 and in 2003
www.espionageinfo.com...

xplosive

Dr Malcolm Davis of the Centre for Defence Studies at King's College, London, says the Americans do have an e-weapon that can be used in either a conventional bomb or in a cruise missile.

But both use a high explosive to trigger the energy pulse so can be used only once.

The advantage of a non-explosive type would be that a cruise missile or other unmanned aircraft could fly over a region selecting and irradiating targets with electromagnetic energy - in effect, sweeping the area of electronic capability.

"But I'm not aware that the Americans have perfected any electrically-driven e-bomb technology," he said.

"They have gone down the conventional explosive path because that's quicker and easier to do."

Electrically-powered versions need a very high voltage to generate the microwave output.

Researchers say the problem is not only generating that but controlling it and the associated heat that is produced.

But Dr Davis says the Russians have done a lot of work on such weapons and he has seen a photo of an electrically-driven, shoulder-held microwave weapon - resembling a portable SAM anti-aircraft missile launcher.

'Briefcase bomb'

It was claimed this could knock down an aircraft up to eight kilometres away.

These claims could be exaggerated, he said - but there was no reason technically why you could not generate a pulse of electromagnetic energy in a particular direction.

As long ago as 1998, a Swedish newspaper reported that its country's military had bought and tested a Russian HPM bomb.

The briefcase-sized device was said to emit short, high-energy pulses reaching 10 gigawatts - equivalent to the output from 10 nuclear reactors.

The German company Rheinmetall Weapons and Munitions has also been researching e-weapons for years and has test versions.

It is reported to be collaborating with Russian institutions in developing an HPM generator that could be fitted into a 155mm artillery shell.
news.bbc.co.uk...

In regards to Greece, the Macedonian FM does not see any solution on the name dispute, rather predicts not much would happen in the next four years due to Greece's. "The sovereignty of each country is stipulated in the constitution. It would be rather frivolous for the Republic of Macedonia, under pressure and blackmail, to allow changing of its Constitution and other acts related to the states' integrity and sovereignty", Milososki said.