field strength achievable at a given radius, and its spectral distribution. Means of delivery will constrain the accuracy with which the weapon can be positioned in relation to the intended target. Both constrain lethality. Rules of engagement can only be determined by a particular administration’s foreign policy and defense goals.
In the context of targeting military equipment, it must be noted that vacuum tube equipment is substantially more resilient to the electromagnetic weapons effects than solid state, transistor technology. Therefore, a hard electrical kill may not be achieved against targets using antiquated technology.
Means of delivery will limit the lethality of an electromagnetic bomb by introducing limits to the weapon's size and the accuracy of its delivery. Advanced technology, as discussed below, is addressing this issue.
Politically, the accuracy of delivery and achievable lethal radius must be considered against the acceptable collateral damage for the chosen target. Where collateral electrical damage or significant human impact is a consideration, accuracy of delivery and lethal radius are critical parameters. An inaccurately delivered weapon with a large lethal radius may be unusable against a target, should the likely collateral electrical damage be beyond acceptable limits. Collateral damage may be a major issue for nation-states constrained by restrictive rules of engagement designed to avoid unexpected loss of life.
Railgun Applications
Electromagnetic railguns -- that use electricity rather than chemical propellants to launch projectiles -- are potential game changers too. There are currently two working prototypes under consideration at the Marine Corps Base at Quantico. At $25,000 per round, the electromagnetic railgun may be capable of the same results as multimillion-dollar missiles.
Railguns are of particular interest to the military, as an alternative to current bulky artillery. Railgun ammunition, in the form of small tungsten missiles, would be relatively light, simple to transport, and easy to handle. Due to their high velocities, railgun missiles would be less susceptible to bullet drop and wind shift, than current artillery shells. Course correction would be important, but all missiles fired from railgun artillery could be guided by satellite.
It would be harder to engineer small arms railguns, mainly because of recoil. Recoil, the backward action of a firearm upon discharge, is determined by the momentum of the escaping projectile. Multiplying a projectile's mass by its velocity yields its momentum, which for high-velocity railgun projectiles, would be considerable. A portable railgun that fires very small bullets may be the solution. A small bullet would limit recoil, but still carry enough kinetic energy to inflict severe damage.
Railguns have also been proposed as important components of the Strategic Defense Initiative, popularly known as Star Wars. Star Wars is a U.S. government program responsible for the research and development of a space-based system to defend the nation from attack by strategic ballistic missiles. Railguns could fire projectiles to intercept the incoming missiles. Some scientists argue that railguns could also protect Earth from rogue asteroids, by firing high-velocity projectiles from orbit. Upon impact, the projectiles would either destroy the incoming asteroid or change its trajectory.
Railguns have some interesting non-military applications as well. For one thing, they could potentially launch satellites or space shuttles into the upper atmosphere, where auxiliary rockets would kick in. On bodies without an atmosphere, such as the moon, railguns could deliver projectiles to space without chemical propellant, which would require air to function.
Railguns could also be used to initiate fusion reactions. Fusion occurs when two small atomic nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus, a process that releases large amounts of energy. Atomic nuclei must be
In the context of targeting military equipment, it must be noted that vacuum tube equipment is substantially more resilient to the electromagnetic weapons effects than solid state, transistor technology. Therefore, a hard electrical kill may not be achieved against targets using antiquated technology.
Means of delivery will limit the lethality of an electromagnetic bomb by introducing limits to the weapon's size and the accuracy of its delivery. Advanced technology, as discussed below, is addressing this issue.
Politically, the accuracy of delivery and achievable lethal radius must be considered against the acceptable collateral damage for the chosen target. Where collateral electrical damage or significant human impact is a consideration, accuracy of delivery and lethal radius are critical parameters. An inaccurately delivered weapon with a large lethal radius may be unusable against a target, should the likely collateral electrical damage be beyond acceptable limits. Collateral damage may be a major issue for nation-states constrained by restrictive rules of engagement designed to avoid unexpected loss of life.
Railgun Applications
Electromagnetic railguns -- that use electricity rather than chemical propellants to launch projectiles -- are potential game changers too. There are currently two working prototypes under consideration at the Marine Corps Base at Quantico. At $25,000 per round, the electromagnetic railgun may be capable of the same results as multimillion-dollar missiles.
Railguns are of particular interest to the military, as an alternative to current bulky artillery. Railgun ammunition, in the form of small tungsten missiles, would be relatively light, simple to transport, and easy to handle. Due to their high velocities, railgun missiles would be less susceptible to bullet drop and wind shift, than current artillery shells. Course correction would be important, but all missiles fired from railgun artillery could be guided by satellite.
It would be harder to engineer small arms railguns, mainly because of recoil. Recoil, the backward action of a firearm upon discharge, is determined by the momentum of the escaping projectile. Multiplying a projectile's mass by its velocity yields its momentum, which for high-velocity railgun projectiles, would be considerable. A portable railgun that fires very small bullets may be the solution. A small bullet would limit recoil, but still carry enough kinetic energy to inflict severe damage.
Railguns have also been proposed as important components of the Strategic Defense Initiative, popularly known as Star Wars. Star Wars is a U.S. government program responsible for the research and development of a space-based system to defend the nation from attack by strategic ballistic missiles. Railguns could fire projectiles to intercept the incoming missiles. Some scientists argue that railguns could also protect Earth from rogue asteroids, by firing high-velocity projectiles from orbit. Upon impact, the projectiles would either destroy the incoming asteroid or change its trajectory.
Railguns have some interesting non-military applications as well. For one thing, they could potentially launch satellites or space shuttles into the upper atmosphere, where auxiliary rockets would kick in. On bodies without an atmosphere, such as the moon, railguns could deliver projectiles to space without chemical propellant, which would require air to function.
Railguns could also be used to initiate fusion reactions. Fusion occurs when two small atomic nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus, a process that releases large amounts of energy. Atomic nuclei must be
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