[iwar] New UK EMP bombs (artillery)
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Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2001 01:05:27 -0000
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Subject: [iwar] New UK EMP bombs (artillery)
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Source
http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent/1,11597,TS_ebomb_upi,00.html?cat
=NEWSEDITOR2
New Shell Disrupts
Electronics
E-Bomb Does Not Kill People
UPI
LONDON (Dec. 28, 2000) -- British
scientists have developed a
non-explosive artillery shell that can
put out such a powerful burst of
radio-frequency energy it will destroy
or disable electrical and electronic
systems for miles around without killing
anyone.
The new so-called E-Bomb was developed
privately by Matra BAe
Dynamics and fits into US research
efforts into matching and countering
similar Russian systems, whose advanced
development startled western
intelligence officials when it was
revealed two years ago.
Particularly worrying to British
intelligence officials were reports that the
IRA has discussed using a version of the
Russian bomb that can be
carried in a briefcase. The target,
according to the London Daily Telegraph
on Wednesday, was the City of London. A
meltdown of unprotected
computer electronics in the heart of one
of the world's primary financial
centers is one of Britain's worst
nightmares.
But almost equally-alluring to British
Ministry of Defense officials was the
prospect of using such a weapon
themselves. Last summer they issued a
summary of requirements to companies for
"radio frequency munitions
delivered by 155mm shell or rocket",
without saying what they would use
it for.
US cruise missiles and bombs are
believed to be earmarked for similar
radio frequency devices, but this is the
first time one has been designed
for close-in artillery systems that are
cheaper and less easily shot down.
"It's being looked at for peacekeeping
operations, perhaps for hostage
situations where you want to knock out
someone's mobile phones,
computers, electronic security devices
and so on," said a BAe Systems
spokesman Thursday. The company's work
on the system won the
scientists a gold award for innovation
from the BAe Systems chairman.
The E-Bomb works by being fired from a
long-range 155mm artillery gun
or MLRS rocket launcher and then
breaking open its outer casing over the
target. The shell or rocket then unfolds
its radio transmitter aerials and the
transmitter sends a high powered radio
pulse of billions of watts that lasts
just a few nanoseconds.
Just how effective it would be against a
modern military force remains
uncertain, however. British, American
and other Nato equipment is
significantly "ruggedized", encased in
extra layers of protective materials
compared to that of off-the-shelf
commercial electronics.
The result of an E-blast could be,
therefore, that the enemy military has
the only functioning communication
systems while the civilian
infrastructure, including power plants,
manufacturing, hospitals and
transportation, stops working.
NATO's military has been hardening its
electronic systems for many
years, primarily as a defense against
nuclear warfare. It has long been
known that the electro-magnetic pulse
(EMP) of a nuclear blast severely
damages electronic equipment. Up to now,
however, EMP has only been
considered a peripheral concern of the
far more devastating
consequences of nuclear war, not as a
weapon on its own.
"The theory and strategy of active
electronic warfare in non-nuclear
situations has still to be determined,"
said one senior British officer. "We
are still sorting out some of the
lessons of the air campaign on Serbia last
year. But this is the first I've heard
of a practicable, useable design for the
artillery. It certainly tends to open up
the discussion a bit."
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said
there is no contract for the Matra
BAe device, and there is no funding
commitment to the futuristic project.
The Matra BAe spokesman said it could be
ten years before it is
deployed.
Wanja Eric Naef
Webmaster & Researcher
IWS - The Information Warfare Site
http://www.iwar.org.uk
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