China is investing a great deal of money on EMP technologies and so are we. Electro Magnetic Pulse weapons theorhetically can shut down entire states, even countries electronically. Should we view them as our number ONE threat to America and our future exhistance? Or should they take a back seat to more traditional threats like nuclear or conventional arms?
2007-12-09 10:51:25 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The energy needed to create the pulse is enormous, at this time we do not have a power source that is portable to energize such a device.
Vet-USAF
2007-12-09 11:03:16 · answer #1 · answered by ฉันรักเบ้า 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They are in the research or development stages probably in most countries capable of developing them. They would have the potential to make another country vunerable to attack while minimizing casualties and property damage. Turning the power off prior the "bomb" exploding and then back back on might not be feasible-you have to know it is coming, who says it would be a bomb, and if powerful enough would not matter. One of the effects could be erasing computer memory since a computer is never really totally off, they all have batteries when they are disconnected, and the ROM information is necessary to boot up-how long would it take for reloading every computer in an aircraft, M1 Abrams or missile system quickly. The potential is there and may be developed someday but right now it is not a great threat and secondary to the other. If it is developed to the point of making our defensive and offensive weapons ineffective it would be the number one threat. Our edge against most potential opponents is quality, that quality is based mainly on computers and electronics-lose those and we are at an disadvantage because we rely heavily, maybe too heavily, on those systems and that quality edge. We do need to develop both the capability and a defense to these type weapons.
2007-12-09 19:30:35 · answer #2 · answered by GunnyC 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as i know there are no EMP weapons other than a nuclear weapon. However I am certain that the USA is investigating and experimenting with EMP and trying to develop a non-nuclear version. I also wonder how you know what china is doing since I know it would have to be extremely classified. AT a minimum TOP SECRET EYES ONLY. Get the picture?
2007-12-09 19:20:41 · answer #3 · answered by SFC_Ollie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes it is a real threat. The biggest dammage would be to banking and data handleing infrastructure... A work a round could be found for most other things untill perminate fixes were available... but with no money and data records everything would come to a grinding halt.
2007-12-09 19:25:34 · answer #4 · answered by lordkelvin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Practically everything is run by computer chips. If the chip isn't EMP resistant, then the chip's data is erased which it is no longer functionable..
The question is what effect would a massive EMP do to humans, especially their brain?
2007-12-09 18:56:54 · answer #5 · answered by Arcanum Noctis 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The EMP weapon is not as effective as it seems. Many of the essential components in this country are already shielded from the EMP threat.
The possible EMP threat is old news.
2007-12-09 19:02:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Like you stated...they are only theoretical weapons. If they worked like the movies...it would be great....but no one knows what they will do...since a test would knock out all their systems first.
2007-12-09 18:58:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
All we would have to do is turn of the power, than back on after the bomb.
2007-12-09 18:56:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋