Saturday, July 20, 2019
Radio Frequency Weapons and the Next Phase of Terrorism :: September 11 Terrorism Essays
Radio Frequency Weapons and the Next Phase of Terrorism      Abstract:  This paper examines different types of radio frequency ("RF") weapons that are currently being developed. It discusses the different types of weapons that currently exist, explains why they would be useful to terrorists, and explores different ways to defend against them.             Recent media articles have put forth the idea of the "RF weapon," something that has been described as if it were a magical gun that can bring the United States to its knees. While these weapons do exist, the threat they pose is far less widespread and dangerous than articles such as "RF Weapons Attacking Our Freedom?" propose. Having said that, however, the threat is real, and steps need to be taken to defend against RF weaponry.             One of the first distinctions that should be drawn in this discussion is that between RF weapons and EMP weapons. An EMP (electromagnetic pulse) is usually employed by detonating a thermonuclear devices at high altitudes (500 miles or more) above the Earth. The resulting electromagnetic pulse cripples any electronic equipment within its path. Thus, one nuclear device can be used to cripple the modern infrastructure of an entire nation [1]. An RF device is effective over a much smaller range, but it can cause just as much damage [2].             According to David Shriner, a former military engineer and expert on RF technology, there are a number of different types of RF weapons, which are also referred to as High Powered Microwave (HPM) weapons. The first type is the conventional RF weapon, which sends out a concentrated band of radio waves toward a target. These radio waves act in a way similar to the waves inside a normal microwave oven; given a sufficient amount of power, they can be used to heat and damage electronic equipment operating at the same frequency. Because of this need to match frequency with the target, conventional RF weapons require prior research and intelligence before they can be deployed effectively by terrorists [3].             A second, more insidious type of HPM weapon is what Shriner calls the Transient Electromagnetic Device (TED). Instead of producing a sine wave at a particular frequency (as conventional RF devices do), the TED creates a sudden spike of energy that can last as little as 100 picoseconds (the amount of time it takes light to travel about 1.
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