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Subject: EMP Shield Protection
EKAdams    8/6/2006 6:06:42 PM
In the hypothetical situation that the right sort of a nuclear weapon detonated above North America with enough altitude, would the systems in ICBM silos in the EMP zone be affected or is it known whether they have already been shielded in some way?
 
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Sucari       10/12/2006 12:38:46 AM
my money is on that hey have been sheilded just common sense
 
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lightningtest       10/12/2006 8:24:16 AM

"systems in ICBM silos"; if that definition includes any SATCOM reliant systems then assuming they will not be "affected" by high altitude nuclear detonation is a little delusional  IMHO.

Backup's COMM do exist though.  I assume they are slightly less responsive and perhaps not so able to communicate with the Buses in orbit.  Perhaps some of those backups are even susceptible to backhoe damage.

However right sort of device to screw with satellites may not be one which emphasizes producing immediate NEMP wave.  Look at what weapons were used in the 50's and 60's in high altitude tests for an idea of what they were really concerned about back in the day.

 
 
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Carl S       11/14/2006 7:24:49 PM
The guy down the street wears metal foil inside his hat.  Should I do the same, or are the 'waves' directed from tunnels underground?
 
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Mike From Brielle    EMP Shield Protection   11/21/2006 5:43:12 PM
"In the hypothetical situation that the right sort of a nuclear weapon detonated above North America with enough altitude, would the systems in ICBM silos in the EMP zone be affected or is it known whether they have already been shielded in some way?"
 
They have been shielded, and a great deal of work went into doing it.  Not only the shields but the internal electronics as well.
 
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TrustButVerify       3/8/2007 8:45:35 AM


"systems in ICBM silos"; if that definition includes any SATCOM reliant systems then assuming they will not be "affected" by high altitude nuclear detonation is a little delusional  IMHO.


Backup's COMM do exist though.  I assume they are slightly less responsive and perhaps not so able to communicate with the Buses in orbit.  Perhaps some of those backups are even susceptible to backhoe damage.


Since SLFCSS was replaced with the MEECN LF/VLF systems, ICBMs still have a very dependable backup to their EHF SATCOM systems. SACCS (a landline system) is used as well IIRC, but isn't properly hardened. But I don't even grant that the SATCOM systems are as vulnerable as they might seem; a lot of effort went into hardening the ground systems, and I would be very surprised if some similar measures were not taken with the satellites.
And then there's the fact that satellites in geosynchronous orbits (such as comsats) are really, really hard to intercept.
 
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TrustButVerify    LF/VLF   3/8/2007 8:52:56 AM
I'm confused by the statement about communnicating with buses in orbit; are you talking about warhead buses? AFAIK no one considers talking to their missiles once they're out of LOS of the launch facility.
The satellites certainly don't use LF or VLF. That's a job handled by fixed land systems, Navy TACAMO aircraft, and the Air Force "Nightwatch" planes- all very hardened systems.
 
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TrustButVerify    Retargeting   3/9/2007 2:47:19 PM
Fascinating... I happened to note in Max Walmer's Illustrated Guide to Strategic Weapons Systems that the Minuteman III can be retargeted in flight by the NAOC (E-4B airborne command post). This leaves open the possibility that other CP's (Raven Rock, Cheyenne Mountain, Offut, and the old EC-135s) and even the individual LCFs could do the same. It's odd; none of the manny missile troops I've talked no mentioned such a thing.
 
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Francois       3/18/2007 7:15:52 AM
I have never seen a specification for ANY mil program that didn't include an EMP provision paragraph of a level or another.
 
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