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8 Modern Weapons: Possibilities and Limitations
8.4 Microwave Weapons for Atmospheric and Space
Applications
8.4.1 RF Space Weapons
In the US, works on the creation of radio frequency (microwave) weapons were
officially recognized with the adoption of a number of programs aimed at developing
new combat weapons with sources of electromagnetic radiation by DARPA in 1986.
In the expert environment, they are referred to as radio frequency (RF) and high
power microwave weapons (HPMW) weapons (RF/HPM weapons according to the
American classification).
This is a promising type of weapon based on using a powerful electromagnetic
pulse (EMP) or a series of pulses having a negative effect on radioelectronic components of weapons and military equipment. The emergence of such SHF weapons
was due to the fact that the earlier weapon systems and military equipment as well
as the ones created within the framework of various national military programs are
equipped with lots of electronics vulnerable to the damaging effect of such radiation.
The first information about EMR capable of destroying various technical devices
was obtained during the first nuclear weapon tests. Further study of its properties
pushed local and foreign scientists towards search for other sources of powerful
radiation sources. For example, in the 1950s, Soviet academician Andrei Sakharov
suggested the principle of designing a non-nuclear electromagnetic bomb, in which
a powerful EMP is formed due to compression of the magnetic field of a solenoid by
the explosion of a chemical explosive.
Currently, there is a number of field-tested high-power microwave generators
capable of immediately disabling electronics of weapons and military equipment,
causing functional defeat of the carriers of these means. In particular, microwave
radiations appeared to be extremely effective against telecommunication systems—
an order of magnitude more effective than the most powerful laser radiation.
As we know, the effect of laser radiation is largely down to heat effect; therefore, it
is in proportion to the intensity of the stream, while the effect of microwave radiation
is manifested in the form of the field breakdown in semiconductor elements used in
electronics, which is known to electronic specialists; therefore, its effect is in proportion to the value of the electrical field in the microwave stream, which makes this
effect much more effective. Complication and miniaturization of electronics increase
their resistance to microwave effects, thus increasing the relevance of creating such
microwave weapons.
Advantages of microwave (RF/HMP) weapons as compared to traditional
weapons are nearly the same as the advantages of laser weapons (LW): delivery
of the destructive energy to the target at the speed of light, high rate of response,
potentially large reserve of the destructive energy and cycles of use and the significant
range of effect during functional destruction of the target. However, it has certain
features different from those of LW:
8 Modern Weapons: Possibilities and Limitations
8.4 Microwave Weapons for Atmospheric and Space
Applications
8.4.1 RF Space Weapons
In the US, works on the creation of radio frequency (microwave) weapons were
officially recognized with the adoption of a number of programs aimed at developing
new combat weapons with sources of electromagnetic radiation by DARPA in 1986.
In the expert environment, they are referred to as radio frequency (RF) and high
power microwave weapons (HPMW) weapons (RF/HPM weapons according to the
American classification).
This is a promising type of weapon based on using a powerful electromagnetic
pulse (EMP) or a series of pulses having a negative effect on radioelectronic components of weapons and military equipment. The emergence of such SHF weapons
was due to the fact that the earlier weapon systems and military equipment as well
as the ones created within the framework of various national military programs are
equipped with lots of electronics vulnerable to the damaging effect of such radiation.
The first information about EMR capable of destroying various technical devices
was obtained during the first nuclear weapon tests. Further study of its properties
pushed local and foreign scientists towards search for other sources of powerful
radiation sources. For example, in the 1950s, Soviet academician Andrei Sakharov
suggested the principle of designing a non-nuclear electromagnetic bomb, in which
a powerful EMP is formed due to compression of the magnetic field of a solenoid by
the explosion of a chemical explosive.
Currently, there is a number of field-tested high-power microwave generators
capable of immediately disabling electronics of weapons and military equipment,
causing functional defeat of the carriers of these means. In particular, microwave
radiations appeared to be extremely effective against telecommunication systems—
an order of magnitude more effective than the most powerful laser radiation.
As we know, the effect of laser radiation is largely down to heat effect; therefore, it
is in proportion to the intensity of the stream, while the effect of microwave radiation
is manifested in the form of the field breakdown in semiconductor elements used in
electronics, which is known to electronic specialists; therefore, its effect is in proportion to the value of the electrical field in the microwave stream, which makes this
effect much more effective. Complication and miniaturization of electronics increase
their resistance to microwave effects, thus increasing the relevance of creating such
microwave weapons.
Advantages of microwave (RF/HMP) weapons as compared to traditional
weapons are nearly the same as the advantages of laser weapons (LW): delivery
of the destructive energy to the target at the speed of light, high rate of response,
potentially large reserve of the destructive energy and cycles of use and the significant
range of effect during functional destruction of the target. However, it has certain
features different from those of LW: