Online Sponsor: March 31, 2003
High-Power Microwave Systems AMY SVITAK, DEFENSE NEWS MEDIA GROUP
HPM systems produce high-density bursts of energy capable of damaging or destroying nearby electronics, including those in aircraft, vehicles, weapon systems and air defense and communications systems. HPM weapons could give U.S. forces a distinct edge, allowing them to destroy or disrupt enemy command and control systems and prevent enemy forces from communicating effectively, Thompson said. HPM weapons have been under development for decades, Thompson told attendees at a conference sponsored by Defense News Media Group, Strike Warfare Precision Attack: Compressing the ‘Flash-to-Bang’ Cycle. While the majority of information available on HPMs is classified, some are likely already in use. HPMs could be deployed in variety of ways, including by unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), on bombs or on cruise missiles, Thompson said, adding that the Air Force has been working on a program to put HPM weapons on a UCAV by 2012. One of the challenges associated with the use of this weaponry is the ability to determine an appropriate level of energy needed to achieve the desired effect, Thompson said. Detailed knowledge of enemy equipment and environment is needed. Another concern is the potential for HPM weapons to affect friendly forces. Countermeasures to an HPM attack include shielding or hardening electronic equipment. But hardening existing equipment, such as composite aircraft, would add weight and cost to U.S. military equipment. But HPM weapons are extremely precise, Thompson said, noting that they are capable of exactly targeting portions of an individual target, such as a missile. HPMs are also very fast, a factor that would address an age-old problem for the warfighter — the time lapse between the trigger-puller and the target, he said. HPMs are ideal for effects-based operations, because they can be tailored to deliver lethal and non-lethal outcomes. And, following the initial investment in the platform, the incremental cost of HPMs is “trivial” Thompson said. Return to news coverage |
Sponsor: 
Maj. Gen. John L "Jack" Hudson |
