Electro-magnetic Bomb

Thanks for the links. The EMP bomb is certainly labelled as one of the most feared weapons by the U.S.A., especially since China is rumoured to possess it. But I'm not quite sure of that, since evry source I have seen saying that the PRC posseses this thing appears to be hearsay. Does anyone have any relaiable sources that it does?

P.S. Now that I've reealised it, why is this posted into the Navy forum rathe r than the General military forum?

because one of the scenarios frequently brought up is a high altitude nuclear detonation over a carrier group.

I thought most aircraft and carriers were hardened to resist an e attack ?

but neocons always like the drum up the Chinese threat.

I seriously doubt that any nation-state would utilize such a weapon. It would primarily be the weapon of a terrorist organization (if they could acquire such a device). Remember, such a device does entail the splitting of atoms, which is a risky buisness since it could trigger response in kind from the other side- though possibly in a more deadly fashion.

Isint it true that one would not really need to use such a weapon? I hear that by detonating a nuke in the upper-atmosphere, your can cause a signifigant discharge of Electro Magnetic energy to send an entire city into the dark ages, or even disable an entire power grid. Though such a plan would not be without flaws. Most signifigant is that one might destroy any satelites orbiting the area.

This is true, but what I ask is if it is practical.

Originally Posted by Kampfwagen

Isint it true that one would not really need to use such a weapon? I hear that by detonating a nuke in the upper-atmosphere, your can cause a signifigant discharge of Electro Magnetic energy to send an entire city into the dark ages, or even disable an entire power grid. Though such a plan would not be without flaws. Most signifigant is that one might destroy any satelites orbiting the area.

This is true, but what I ask is if it is practical.

Regardless of effect, altitude, or magnetitude, the detonation of any type of nuclear device over another nation's territory will be condemend internationally, and may warrant a nuclear response from the targetted nation.

Originally Posted by Kampfwagen

. Most signifigant is that one might destroy any satelites orbiting the area.

This is true, but what I ask is if it is practical.

I just got a tremendous idea. It is so crazy it just might work. China (or any other nation with large amounts of nukes) could detonate them in the upper atmosphere or space to take out the US satillite networks like you said. Without its satillites the US military is without most of its intelligence, communication and GPS. It would be very difficult, and I doubt that every satillite would be killed, but it could be possible.

About the practicality of detonating a nuke over a CVBG, I don't know if it would work. The best way to do it would be a bomber, but with all the air defence the bomber wouldn't make it through. A missle could be used, but it might nuke the entire force and kill it all just like at Bikini Atoll. What if one is detonated under the CVBG, perhaps in a sea-mine with neutral bouancy released from a sub? The wave might even sink a ship or two.

I think there are methods to generate EMP without using a nuke or EMP bomb. Here's one I found
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4845378.html

However, I would think that most US forces have shielding against EMP. The B-2 nuclear-capable bomber, for example, has such shielding (if it didn't have any it would lose its electronic systems and fall out of the sky after dropping a nuke). It shouldn't be a surprise if a US CVBG have such protection too

Technicaly speaking, every electronic device emits EMP waves, although the ammount of it is just so small that it dosent really do anything. If one could rig a device to increase this ammount of EMP waves at a specific time, it might cause whatever device to self-destruct, and if signifigant enough to disable any device in the emediate area.

I dont know if this is possible, but with the correct EMP sheilding of the electronics, would it be probable to make a 'gun' that fires concentrated EMP emissions?

If China wanted to EMP a U.S. Aircraft Carrier group, then the best way to do that would be to use the DF-15. That is probably the most accurate Chinese ballistic missile at the moment, and we know that it is perfectly capable of locking on to a CBG. If it hit the deck with a conventional warhead, it would cause serious damage. If it struck the carrier with an EMP warhead, the result would be catastrophic. All advanced defences in the group would fail, making it a sitting duck for Chinese sub or air attack. A bomber would be to vulnerable, and China doesn't posess any good-quality bombers at the moment. Even if it did, a missile is still the best opition. Any bomber attacking a CBG would be an easy target for the CBG's Aegis defence system.

carriers are shielded, because the Russians thought the same thing. Nukes are just bad ideas in general.

But would it be possible to EMP satillites? By nuclear means or (preferably) other?

I came up with another way to destroy the US militaries satillite network. I haven't done any research to see if it is feasable, so that is why I'm posting it here. You could launch satillites with nuclear warheads/EMP device inside, and let them orbit the earth. There would have to be quite a few, but they could easily be disguiesd (I think) as something much more conventional such as a simple communications satillite or something. Then, when ever nesessary, you could detonate one or all of them, trying to coincide with the passing of another satillite/s that you wish to target. Would it work? This is pretty off topic, but I am very curious.