Radio Frequency Weapons and the Next Phase of Terrorism :: September 11 Terrorism Essays

Radio Frequency Weapons and the Next Phase of Terrorism nonobjective This paper examines unlike types of radio oftenness (RF) weapons that are presently 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 mentation of the RF weapon, something that has been described as if it were a magical gun that potbelly bring the United States to its knees. While these weapons do exist, the threat they pose is far-off less widespread and dangerous than articles such as RF Weapons struggle Our Freedom? propose. Having said that, however, the threat is real, and steps need to be interpreted to defend against RF weaponry. One of the graduation exercise distinctions that should be drawn in this discussion is that between RF weapons and EMP weapons. An EMP (electromagnetic shiver) 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 weed be used to cripple the modern infrastructure of an entire state of matter 1. An RF device is effective over a much littler range, but it can cause just as much detriment 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 stuffy RF weapon, which sends out a concentrated tie 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 violate electronic equipment operating at the same frequency. Because of this need to match frequency with the target, conventional RF weapons require prior res earch and intelligence sooner they can be deployed effectively by terrorists 3. A second, more deadly 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 get as little as 100 picoseconds (the amount of time it takes nimbleness to travel about 1.