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ELECTROMAGNETIC BOMB
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Contents:
Introduction.
Basic Principle of E-Bomb.
Technology Base for E-Bomb.
Coupling Modes.
E-Bomb Targets.
Firing of E-Bombs.
Defences Against E-Bombs.
Military Applications of E-Bomb.
Advantages and disadvantages.
Conclusions.
References.
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3.
Introduction
The most recent war operations relied on air power and precision
guided ammunitions.
Future campaigns will require more suitable weapons to achieve
shock effect over large targets with small attacking forces.
Electromagnetic bombs (E-Bombs) can perform such a role.
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4.
Basic Principle of E-Bomb
The Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) effect .
The Electromagnetic Pulse is an electromagnetic shock wave.
This pulse of energy produces a powerful electromagnetic field
sufficiently strong to produce short lived transient voltages of
thousands of volts on exposed electrical conductors like
wires, printed circuit boards etc.
This can cause irreversible damage to wide range of electrical and
electronic equipments particularly computers and radio or radar
devices.
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5.
Technology Base for E-Bomb
There are two widely used technologies:
Flux Compression Generators(FCG),and
Virtual Cathode Oscillator or Vircator.
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Flux Compression Generators(FCG)
FCG can produce tens of Mega Joules in tens to hundreds of
microseconds.
Main parts of FCG include:
Armature(copper tube).
Stator(helical heavy wire coil).
Initiator(plane wave explosion lens) and
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Contd…..
Jacket(prevents disintegration due to magnetic field).
FCG start current is provided by an external source.
When start current peaks initiator is fired to initiate explosive burn.
Explosive pressure expands armature and creates moving short.
Moving armature compressses a magnetic field.
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8.
Virtual Cathode Oscillator
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Contd…..
Electron beam is accelerated through foil or mesh anode.
Electrons passing through anode will form a bubble of space charge
around anode.
Under proper conditions this space charge will oscillate at micro
frequencies.
Peak power of tens of GW for 100s of sec.
Cheap and simple to manufacture.
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10.
Coupling Modes:
Front Door Coupling through antennas.
Destroys RF semiconductor devices in transmitters and receivers.
Back Door Coupling through power /data
cabling, telephone wiring.
Destroys exposed semiconductor devices.
Punches through isolation transfomers.
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E-Bomb Targets:
Fixed installations(buildings,radars etc.).
Radiating mobileshidden targets(ships,mobiles).
Non radiating mobileshidden targets.
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Firing of E-Bombs:
Warhead comprises of priming current source,FCG(cascade) and
Vircator tube.
Missile installations must supply 100% of weapon priming energy
from own supply.
Bomb installation-weapon can be precharged before release from
aircraft.
A free fall E-Bomb is more lethal.
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Firing of E-Bomb
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Firing options:
Aircraft Dumb bombs (free fall delivery).
GPS or satellite guided bombs.
standoff missiles.
Cruise Missiles(weight restricted to 340kg).
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15.
Defence and Hardening
Destroy the delivery vehicle.
Electromagnetically harden/hide important assets.
Use optical fibres for data transfer and comprehensive shielding.
Isolate power feeds with transient arrrestors.
Use non-electromagnetic power feed and electromagnetic “air
lock”.
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Hardening
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Military applications of E-Bomb:
Electronic combat:
The E-Bomb enables rapid attrition of enemy electronic assets over
large areas.
The E-Bomb offers important force multiplication effects compared
to conventional weapons.
Strategic warfare:
Economic vitals-finance and stock
markets,manufacturing,petroleum are highly vulnerable.
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Contd…..
Transport infrastructure-signalling and vehicle ignition systems are
vulnerable.
Population-radio and TV receivers.
Military equipments are vulnerable.
Theatre Warfare
Offensive Counter Air operations-disable aircraft in flight,on
ground and destroy their supporting infrastructure.
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Contd…..
Sea Control-disable surface combatants prior to attack with
conventional weapons.
Punitive Missions:
The E-Bomb is a punitive weapon as it can cause much economic
and military damage with no loss of civilian life.
E-Bombs could be profitably used against countries which sponser
terrorism and info-terrorism.
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Advantages:
Not lethal to humans.
Negligible collateral damage.
No mass media coverage of bombing casualities(broadcast
equipment destroyed)will reduce threshold for the use of strategic
air power and missile forces.
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Disadvantages:
Means of delivering E-Bombs are difficult.
Difficulty in kill assessment.
Atmospheric propagation of pulse.
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Conclusion:
E-Bombs are weapons of electrical mass destruction.
High payoff in using E-Bombs against fundemental infrastructure
results in substantial paralysis.
Decisive advantage in the conduct of electronic combat.
E-Bombs are non lethal weapon.
The critical issues for next decade are the devolopment of E-
Bombs and hardening of infrastructure.
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References:
1. The air power manuel second edition.RAAF
APSC,CANBERRA,1994.
2. IEEE PULED POWER CONFERENCE,NEWYORK,1989.
3. IEEE SPECTRUM 2002,2003,2001.
4. DIGEST OF TECHNICAL PAPERES.
5. HOEBERLING G92-’ADVANCES IN VIRTUAL CATHOD
MICROWAVE SOURCES’.
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