3 ms·

Why is no one using EMP devices against drones? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse#Non-nuclear_electromagnetic_pulse_(NNEMP) https://en.wikipe

by krunck 6mo ago

Why is no one using EMP devices against drones? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse#Non-nuclear_electromagnetic_pulse_(NNEMP) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse#Non-nucl...

alephnerd 6mo ago
They are. EW and IR C-UAS has been productionized over the past decade in most countries, but there are still supply chain and cost blockers around power electronics and they tend to be treated as a last resort because of their indiscriminate nature.
- DoctorOetker 6mo ago
  A magnet, a conventional explosive, and a coil on a flexible cylinder of polymer film; are power electronics truly necessary for a localized EMP?
  - alephnerd 6mo ago
    Yes. Range, accuracy, targeting, and reducing blast radius matter. Not sure what else I can say so I'll leave it at that, and will not engage with further comments.
  - jacquesm 6mo ago
    I'll bet you could make it in a weekend.
    - DoctorOetker 6mo ago
      Only if one understands the different failure modes, but either way the average HN reader shouldn't try this at home or you'll get in trouble with radio spectrum pollution.
AngryData 6mo ago
Probably because currently they cause more collateral damage than is useful. Your own equipment will be damaged too leaving a bunch of unguided soldiers with just their guns and rations that are still an obstacle an enemy can't walk through, and it will piss off anybody within 1000 miles when you start disrupting their telecommunications with random noise if not cause actual damage. If they are powerful enough you could potentially cause some mistaken nuclear blast warnings too, although perhaps without a gamma ray component it would still be rightfully ignored.
enoint 6mo ago
Both Russia and Ukraine have directed energy rifles. 10 years ago the first examples arrived in Syria.
TYPE_FASTER 6mo ago
https://www.anduril.com/pulsar https://www.anduril.com/pulsar

by krunck 6mo ago

alephnerd 6mo ago

They are. EW and IR C-UAS has been productionized over the past decade in most countries, but there are still supply chain and cost blockers around power electronics and they tend to be treated as a last resort because of their indiscriminate nature.

DoctorOetker 6mo ago
A magnet, a conventional explosive, and a coil on a flexible cylinder of polymer film; are power electronics truly necessary for a localized EMP?
- alephnerd 6mo ago
  Yes. Range, accuracy, targeting, and reducing blast radius matter. Not sure what else I can say so I'll leave it at that, and will not engage with further comments.
- jacquesm 6mo ago
  I'll bet you could make it in a weekend.
  - DoctorOetker 6mo ago
    Only if one understands the different failure modes, but either way the average HN reader shouldn't try this at home or you'll get in trouble with radio spectrum pollution.

AngryData 6mo ago

Probably because currently they cause more collateral damage than is useful. Your own equipment will be damaged too leaving a bunch of unguided soldiers with just their guns and rations that are still an obstacle an enemy can't walk through, and it will piss off anybody within 1000 miles when you start disrupting their telecommunications with random noise if not cause actual damage. If they are powerful enough you could potentially cause some mistaken nuclear blast warnings too, although perhaps without a gamma ray component it would still be rightfully ignored.

enoint 6mo ago

Both Russia and Ukraine have directed energy rifles. 10 years ago the first examples arrived in Syria.

TYPE_FASTER 6mo ago

https://www.anduril.com/pulsar https://www.anduril.com/pulsar