# Re new military weapon just what happens to me if I get "EMF-flashed"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 19, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643 "2003-01-19T15:33:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/1 "2003-01-19T15:33:11Z")
Do my grapes turn to raisins? Am I par boiled? Do I go blind? Do I get that “not so fresh” feeling? What!? [America’s Ultra-Secret Weapon](http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101030127/nmicro.html) > [@](#): > > HPMs can unleash in a flash as much electrical power—2 billion watts or more—as the Hoover Dam generates in 24 hours. Capacitors aboard the missile discharge an energy pulse—moving at the speed of light and impervious to bad weather—in front of the missile as it nears its target. That pulse can destroy any electronics within 1,000 ft. of the flash by short-circuiting internal electrical connections, thereby wrecking memory chips, ruining computer motherboards and generally screwing up electronic components not built to withstand such powerful surges. It’s similar to what can happen to your computer or TV when lightning strikes nearby and a tidal wave of electricity rides in through the wiring. ---
**Author:** ![TBone2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@TBone2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBone2)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/2 "2003-01-19T15:50:27Z")
For sure, you’ll be in the market for a new watch. Other than that, I dunno. During the Cold War, I believe that both the U.S. and the USSR planned first-strike EMF bursts using nukes(a thermonuclear device generates one hell of a lot of juice when it goes bang). The theory involved detonating the warheads at high altitude in a geographic pattern that would blanket the enemy country with high-intensity microwaves. The hoped-for result was the collapse of the enemy’s ability to strike back and communicate in general. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/3 "2003-01-19T16:16:33Z")
My guess is you wouldn’t feel a thing. But that button you push to launch a counter attack wouldn’t do anything, your radio and video go dead, the coffee maker quits working, and your GPS screen goes blank. ---
**Author:** ![censored](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@censored](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/censored)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/4 "2003-01-19T19:34:25Z")
The whole point of the weapon is that it destroys electronic equipment without harming the people. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/5 "2003-01-19T19:57:14Z")
I thought it was EMP, as in Electro Magnetic Pulse. I could be confusing things though. Ah, after googling a bit I find that EMF = Electric Magnetic Field. Everything electronic has one. And an EMP would be a very large EMF occuring when a Nuke is lit up. Correct me if I’m wrong. [sub]I really should know this stuff up and down.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Alien2022](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19adc/32.png) [@Alien2022](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alien2022)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/6 "2003-01-19T20:24:29Z")
and the EMP would knock out just about every electronic device within a certain radius. An EMP from a nuke knocks out electronics within like 15-20 miles IIRC. This thing could be very precise, meaning, you send enough of these little things over Command and Control centers, and suddenly, the Iraqi army has no ability to coordinate any thing. The ultimate in cutting off communications… ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/7 "2003-01-20T19:29:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBill \* > \*\*My guess is you wouldn’t feel a thing. But that button you push to launch a counter attack wouldn’t do anything, your radio and video go dead, the coffee maker quits working, and your GPS screen goes blank. \*\* _The coffee maker quits working?!_ Barbarians! Have they no soul? RR ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/8 "2003-01-20T19:32:54Z")
Whatever happened it would be… UNBELIEVABLE… OH! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/9 "2003-01-20T19:42:24Z")
Well, there’s this from the cited source: > [@](#): > > HPMs could destroy nearby heart pacemakers and other life-critical electrical systems in hospitals or aboard aircraft (that’s why the U.S. military is putting them only on long-range cruise missiles). I think it might suck if you had lots of fillings, too… ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/10 "2003-01-20T20:08:56Z")
No more Tetris on your cell phone either 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/11 "2003-01-20T20:29:22Z")
> [@](#): > > …generally screwing up electronic components not built to withstand such powerful surges. And there’s the rub. As with most measures there is a countermeasure. I’m fairly certain most American military battlefield equipment (tanks, planes and such) are hardened against getting toasted by an EM pulse. I do know if I was contemplating getting into a tussle with the US an EMP weapon (non-nuclear) would be high on my agenda of weapons to design. The US has a heavy reliance on techno wizardry so anything to defang that beast would be helpful. Even if you didn’t fry the components you’d stop all the data links between AWACS, GPS, ground control centers and so on which would still be useful. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/12 "2003-01-20T21:02:36Z")
Point of clarification: Do the effects of an HPM/EMP weapon affect just operating electronics and/or do can they also affect turned off, unplugged electronics as well? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/13 "2003-01-20T21:27:45Z")
> [@](#): > > And there’s the rub. As with most measures there is a countermeasure. I’m fairly certain most American military battlefield equipment (tanks, planes and such) are hardened against getting toasted by an EM pulse. Yes and no. Some military materiel is hardened against EMP, but far from “most” of it. It’s difficult enough simply shielding devices against other RF radiating devices that happen to be operating in the immediate vicinity - and these obviously generate a far lower signal than EMP. Shielding against RF interference is accomplished by enclosing devices in a conductive box; the greater the expected amplitude of exposure, the more conductive the box must be. And since EMP is an extremely high level of RF, it’s extremely difficult to protect against it. Successfully doing so requires quite a bit of bulk, something not always feasible on electronic equipment. MIL-STD-462, I believe, gives the applicable engineering guidelines for RF interference. EMP affects all devices whether operating or not. EMP also shows a special affinity for silicon. For this reason many hardened devices will be designed using vacuum tubes. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/14 "2003-01-20T21:35:04Z")
Whoops. It’s MIL-STD-461, not 462. [http://assist2.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/basic\_profile.cfm?ident\_number=35789](http://assist2.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/basic_profile.cfm?ident_number=35789) ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/15 "2003-01-20T21:51:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBeer \* > \*\*EMP affects all devices whether operating or not. EMP also shows a special affinity for silicon. For this reason many hardened devices will be designed using vacuum tubes. \*\* Many milspec semi-conductors using gallium-arsenide instead of silicon because of EMP. I don’t remember reading about vacuum tube equipment, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised. [minor hijack] Wasn’t that one of the speculations about why the MiG-29 had micro-tubes, aside from the Russian deficient semi-conductor technology? Designed at the height of the cold-war, a much greater emphasis was on NBC (probably only nuclear for an aircraft) survivability than now. [/minor hijack] ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/16 "2003-01-20T21:53:33Z")
And here’s the TEMPEST specification for design of EMP hardened facilities. [http://www.fas.org/nuke/intro/nuke/emp/toc.htm](http://www.fas.org/nuke/intro/nuke/emp/toc.htm) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/17 "2003-01-20T21:56:58Z")
Yup. That’s my recollection from the trade liturature in my days working as a military contractor. We designed & assembled custom AC plasma displays - tube, electronics, packaging - the whole shootin’ match. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/18 "2003-01-21T00:24:31Z")
So just how big would such a pulse have to be to get a massive Dark Angel scenario? Possible with today’s technology? If so, what’s prohibiting such a thing? I assume cost, materials, and expertise. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/19 "2003-01-21T00:37:00Z")
I think that Im gonna put a big mirror on the top of my house, thus bouncing that signal right back to their special rocket rendering it useless 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hammerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hammerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammerbach)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643/20 "2003-01-21T05:40:50Z")
At least SOME military equipment is well shielded. That’s a major part of the Naval vessels I do design work for. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-new-military-weapon-just-what-happens-to-me-if-i-get-emf-flashed/149643.md?page=2)