The effects of an electromagnetic pulse are far worse than most Americans imagine, a leading space policy expert has warned.
With foreign adversaries like Russia and China formally classifying EMP outside the scope of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, infrastructure-destroying weapons can be used against Western nations with little or no direct casualties. It may be used as such.
“Gen Z is going to learn how to start a fire and sharpen a spear.”
Greg Autry, a space policy expert and former Trump administration advisor, told Blaze News that EMP technology and its effects have been known for more than 50 years.
“EMP is an electromagnetic pulse weapon, typically initiated by a massive nuclear explosion at high altitude outside the atmosphere in space,” Autry explained. “Basically, when you detonate a nuclear bomb, the atoms in the atmosphere become ionized or charged, creating a large electric field on the ground that can basically destroy all electronic equipment in a city or a wider area.”
“We know this works because Russia and America actually detonated large numbers of nuclear weapons in space in the early 1960s to show what they could do to each other, especially during the Cuban Missile Crisis. .”
EMP’s disturbing history included nuclear weapons tests off Hawaii’s southwest coast. This caused visible effects in Honolulu, including the aurora borealis in the sky and the outage of parts of the city’s power grid and wireless systems.
The real concern in modern society, Oatley warns, is our heavy reliance on electronic devices.
“If someone did these things today, your phone would be turned into bricks. Anyone with a pacemaker would die instantly. All of your electronic equipment would be lost.” ..Laptop computers, internet routers, and most things would be lost.”Relays in the power grid would be lost, leaving no power. ”
What makes this threat even more dire is that some serviceable parts that may be destroyed during such attacks may not be replaceable.
“Guess what?” Autry asked rhetorically. “The Chinese are the ones who most likely sent us that EMP, and they’re not going to send us any more iPhones or have anyone else ship them to us. What do you think? If they don’t make all of that, they make the steel that’s needed to make the transformers. There’s only one company left in the United States that can make that steel,” Autry said. continued.
The space expert said that while electric cars could turn into “balls of fire”, “all internal combustion engines on the road will be wiped out because they are all powered by computers and electronic ignition systems.” did.
“We are immediately transported to the Stone Age,” Autry said with a laugh in his book.the red moon rises“Gen Z will learn how to start a fire and sharpen a spear without the help of YouTubers,” he joked.
“It’s going to be a really bad day.”
Workarounds and preparation for classification
“What’s scarier,” Autry added, is that America’s adversaries have avoided classifying EMPs in the same category as nuclear weapons.
“Both Russia and China classify these weapons as cyber weapons, not strategic nuclear weapons, and they believe that their use will not affect their obligations or any treaties related to nuclear weapons. They can use these things as cyber tools. ”
Autry said he believes previous cyberattacks from the countries mentioned may be acts of war, but he wants to focus on solutions rather than pontificating on past events. .
The policy expert said the Space Force is “not ignorant” of potential attacks and said the agency’s job is to “develop systems of defense against such attacks” to protect assets on the ground. .
“We could do better at the state level, we could have federal laws that require critical infrastructure to be protected from EMPs. It’s actually not that difficult. We could put these things in what’s called a Faraday cage. You need to put it in a metal box or a mesh box.”
Faraday boxes are commercially available and are somewhat expensive for larger units, although companies such as Defender Shield and SLNT are emerging with products selling for hundreds of dollars. Phone sleeves, laptop carriers, backpacks, and duffel bags that block magnetic waves and his RFID signals are proposed for the average consumer.
Another concern of Autry was that the United States would be drawn into a conflict by another country using EMP. Autry cited examples such as Russia vs. Ukraine and China vs. Taiwan, saying that because casualties are limited, countries may act as if it is not a real attack on their citizens. .
He was convinced that nations and individuals could be better prepared.
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