Military warns EMP attack could wipe out America, 'democracy, world order'

[Crow BarKeymaster]

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/military-warns-emp-attack-could-wipe-out-america-democracy-world-order

 

Going to read the report and post my assessement.  Note, the link in the article to the report is the unclassified version.

[Crow BarKeymaster]

There have been some debate (even heated) about the reliability of smaller electronic devices in a EMP event.

From the report:

<div>However, an EMP would cause instantaneous and simulta-</div>
<div>neous loss of many technologies reliant on electrical power and computer circuit boards, such as cell phones and GPS devices.</div>

While many theorize the impacts to the devices mentioned above, the only people who have access to the technology to actually test is the DOE, DoD, and some national laboratories, likely at a classified level.  The line above may have been a inadvertent disclosure by the DoD that cell phones and hand held GPS devices are susceptible to EMP.

[Crow BarKeymaster]

The report pays particular attention to the impacts of an EMP on nuclear power plants here in the US, namely the loss of water circulation to keep the fuel rods cool to prevent a melt-down.  Several examples were sited from lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

Most of the rest of the report deals with military command, control, and communications or C3.  Acknowledging the need for cellular communications, namely the 5G network, the impacts of losing cellular communications for coordination at low unit levels.

The report mentions grid wide failure could last weeks up to 6 months.  However, this is more from a perspective from the military aspect, not civilian.

This line also stood out to me:

An EMP attack affects all devices with solid-state electronics and could
<div>render inoperative the main power grid and back-up electrical power</div>
<div>systems, such as on-site generators.</div>

• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by  Crow Bar.

[TolikParticipant]

Correct me if I’m wrong , but its my understanding , that an EMP , is a detonation of a low yield nuclear device ? If so , to me , that means nuclear war ………..global nuclear war , as retaliatory weapons would be launched immediately . This threat has been around for a long time now , I have no doubt that US nuclear capabilities have already been protected . That means the human race , would be for the most part ……….over .

[namelusParticipant]

Emp can be created by non nuclear these are much smaller area of effect. Nuclear emp at high altitude is the biggest danger as the emp waves will cover a massive area east to west coast with a detonation mid  usa.

 

Biggest emp is sum but we will have some warning maybe if those in charge choose to share the info.

 

 

 

[Crow BarKeymaster]

@namelus,

Unless the assaulting actors choose to send a txt or tweet, we, even the military will only have a minute or so notice once launch has been detected.  On the OPS floor it is called a FIREBALL.

And that is if it is a ICBM like signature.

A SAM, not sure if they will detect it.

[Mouse WizardParticipant]

Cell phones and GPS units are dependent on networks. For cell phones it’s obvious and observable in any disaster area. Loss of infrastructure = loss of service.

For GPS it’s less obvious, because everyone only sees the units reading the satellites. The problem is timing. Basically we’re talking differences between clock transmissions of different satellites that are at different distances from the GPS receiver. One is far away, the signal takes longer to get there, so it appears to the receiver that the clock is slightly behind the clock of a satellite that is closer. In reality, both satellites are sending the exact same clock signal at the exact same time. Satellite position is also sent, so the GPS receiver knows where each satellite should be in the sky. The combination is used to calculate a position.

Think back to watching the turn signals of a line of cars at an intersection. If you watch them long enough you can see them appear to sync up and then fall out of sync again. That’s because each car has a slightly different time delay for its blinker. Now think of all those satellites, all staying exactly in sync to the microsecond, all the time. There is no clock technology in the world that can stay that exact in the environment of outer space, with radiation, different heat levels as the satellite goes in and out of shadow, and so forth.  Then there is position. GPS satellites need to be in the exact right orbit all the time, so they are constantly monitored and told when to adjust either their clock or position.

The thing that monitors and instructs the satellites to maintain exact sync and positions is called the GPS Control Network. This is a set of ground stations located across the planet linked to a central command and control facility.

Take out the power or the network, the satellites gradually go out of sync or off orbit, and your GPS unit eventually can’t arrive at an answer that makes sense.

The point to all this? It’s the network, not the individual units, that are threatened by EMP. For individual units, the physics just aren’t there. But for the network? Whole ‘nuther story. That includes internet networks and even local area networks where the computers are hardwired to the network. The power grid, telecomm network, and local networks all act as giant antennas so anything connected to them gets a good solid dose.

Your walkie-talkie is safe. Your cell phone and gps, as long as they’re not connected to a charger at the time, will be fine as well, but without their networks, they become bricks. The exception is smartphones and tablets; they’re typically not connected to chargers all the time so their apps like calculators and reference info will still work as long as they’re aren’t dependent on phoning home.

All of this is why my amateur radio antennas are switched directly to ground when not in active use, and the chargers for my smart phone and tablet run off of larger batteries. That way if an EMP happens, the most I’ll lose will be the charger for one of the larger batteries that’s being topped off at the time.

Will an EMP happen? I think so. Why: The report cites a thing called Grey Zone activities:

“Gray zone activities are actions competitive in nature, but which often fall below the threshold for war. These zones of nebulous activity are situated on the spectrum in times of tension, of peace, and of war.

In a Western society governed by law and international standards, attribution is essential to viable deterrence. The party deterring must have the ability to identify an actor and justifiably hold that actor at risk. When an aggressor cannot be identified, the situation may embolden or persuade that actor to be aggressive (especially if the ability to remain cloaked is believed assured).”

I’ve heard many times that we would initiate a nuclear war if hit by an EMP. May not necessarily be the case, since we may not know for sure who initiated the action. And that’s what worries me. If Iran’s or North Korea’s leadership is assured by their scientists that they can remain “cloaked” from blame, then they’re more likely to initiate an EMP.

The report, on page 16, cites one attempt by North Korea to transfer a ballistic missile by sea. Iran has just developed ballistic missile capability and also claims a stealth warship capability.

There are several nations that would like to see the US and NATO taken offline for a while. True, there would be a big economic impact to them, but arguments can be made that it won’t be all that bad if other mutual support networks are in place and ready to go. North Korea, Russia, Pakistan, and China all have the capability to launch an EMP attack. Iran is not far behind.

This is why EMP is number one on my hit parade.

</div>

• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by  Mouse Wizard. Reason: Trying to get rid of the divs

[LittlesisterParticipant]

This is great info to know. And of course I live on the east coast. Just another reason to move from here. I hope this never happens but my gut feeling is that it will. Just a matter of when not if.  We are very close to military and such. It will be really bad around here.

[Author]

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