Abbas Abdulrazaq Hashim Kareem

Department of English

EMP Bombs

1-Introduction 

With the ongoing escalations between Russia and Ukraine to date, many people have started expressing fears of a full-scale war breaking out. The questions being raised include: Will nuclear weapons be used in such a war? What actions would be taken? Would the effects of this war reach the entire world or remain localized? However, what many people don’t know is that one of the most likely weapons to be used in future wars is the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) bomb. Experts say that this weapon could send a country back to the pre-technological era.

After the end of World War II and the advent of the atomic bomb, the U.S. and the Soviet Union began a new type of race, where they detonated such bombs for research and study purposes. In June 1962, the isolated Johnston Atoll in the Indian Ocean became the site of a series of explosions known as Operation Fishbowl. This operation included five progressive explosions, increasing in power from the weakest to the strongest. The first explosion went smoothly, and scientists recorded all the observations they needed. On July 9, 1962, the second explosion, known as Starfish Prime, took place. The plan involved detonating a bomb with 100 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb, launched via a high-altitude rocket over the isolated island.

Although the island was about 1,500 km away from Hawaii, the electrical and electronic systems in Hawaii experienced massive disruptions. This impact wasn’t due to broken buildings or collapsed bridges, but rather to the infrastructure of electronic and electrical systems. Surprisingly, this occurred without any detectable radioactive fallout. Naturally, questions arose about the causes of this phenomenon. Not long after, scientists discovered the culprit—powerful electromagnetic waves that increased electrical voltage in devices and destroyed them.

2-Electromagnetic 

Electromagnetic forces are one of the four fundamental forces in the universe, based on the close relationship between magnetism and electricity. Events like strong solar storms or lightning can generate this type of EMP, and records show that the solar storm on September 2, 1859, was one of the most terrifying on record. If it had occurred in today’s era of widespread electronic and electrical devices, the results would have been catastrophic. This demonstrates that EMP is a well-known natural phenomenon. For this reason, airplanes are equipped with protective measures to shield them from these waves. For example, aircraft are designed with exteriors capable of absorbing electromagnetic waves and insulating their interiors. They also use fine metallic mesh to protect onboard electronic systems.

Despite their destructive impact on electrical and electronic devices, electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) have not been shown to have any known effects on living beings so far. However, the phrase “known effects” should be emphasized here. Researchers often recommend keeping phones away from you while sleeping because a certain amount of electromagnetic waves does leak from these devices. It’s better to be cautious, as new research could emerge at any time, proving potential harm.

3- Emergence of EMP bombs

Following the Starfish Prime explosion, scientists realized that electromagnetic pulses could also be generated artificially. One such method involves detonating a nuclear bomb at high altitude, producing intense EMPs far stronger than solar storms or lightning. In the 1960s, after observing these effects, the term EMP weapon was coined. Specifically, this referred to the Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse (NEMP), which was later abbreviated to “EMP bomb.” The U.S. government even considered using this weapon during the Vietnam War to monitor its effects on electronic devices and the psychological impact on civilians and military personnel. However, the idea was not widely supported, mainly due to fears of triggering a new nuclear war and the desire to keep this discovery secret.

Over time, and with the emergence of agreements and treaties banning nuclear weapons and tests, this new bomb lost its prominence. However, with the rise of the information age and electronic governance, as well as cyber warfare, discussions about EMP bombs resurfaced. While the damage caused by such a weapon in the 1960s or 1970s would have been relatively limited due to the lower prevalence of electronics, today it could completely paralyze life. 

4-Effects of EMP Bombs

EMP bombs now have the capability to disable everything, from missile and air defense systems to transportation networks, banking systems, and even small household appliances. Furthermore, the effects would last for years, impacting the attacked area until its infrastructure could be rebuilt from scratch.

The problem with using this weapon has always been the massive loss of human life. Estimates suggest casualties could reach thousands, if not millions. But how could there be human casualties when EMPs don’t directly affect living beings? While this is true, the increase in electrical voltage caused by the pulses would overwhelm infrastructure, leading to massive fires due to melted cables. Additionally, all transportation systems would suddenly halt following a detonation. Electric trains would stop abruptly, cars—regardless of model—would fail due to reliance on electrical circuits, and trains carrying hundreds of passengers could crash. Even planes, despite their protective measures, might not withstand the concentrated power of a close-range EMP bomb.

Military aircraft, ships, equipment, cranes, and other machinery would all fail. The healthcare system would also collapse, as hospitals depend heavily on electricity to power life-saving devices. The loss of power would result in untold human casualties and would plunge the affected nation into the Middle Ages, devoid of running water, electricity, communication networks, or any modern infrastructure. Even though the EMP bomb doesn’t directly kill people, the aftermath would be devastating.

For these reasons, limited EMP bombs were developed, designed to disable specific facilities without widespread destruction. These so-called “E-bombs” rely on thermal generators instead of nuclear mechanisms. Such bombs can affect areas up to 10 square kilometers. However, they remain classified military secrets, and little information is available about them. What’s known is that both Russia and Ukraine’s allies reportedly possess these weapons.

As tensions rise, and if countries decide to escalate further, the question remains: will the E-bomb come into play? To protect against such weapons, some nations are working to reinforce critical devices, use optical fiber cables for infrastructure, and bury them deep underground to safeguard against EMP attacks. Only time will tell how this plays out.