*
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 07:15:43 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Donate

We Appreciate Your Support

Recent

Author Topic: Is A Directional EMP A Reality Or Still SciFi?  (Read 715 times)

Offline Cacique Caribe

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1978
  • Gelatinous Legal Alien
« Last Edit: March 24, 2020, 06:08:23 PM by Cacique Caribe »

Offline katie

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 303
Re: Is A Directional EMP A Reality Or Still SciFi?
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2020, 11:34:27 PM »
They're a real thing -- usually called HERF guns. You can shoot down drones with them. They're illegal in a lot of jurisdictions.

Offline pixelgeek

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 2026
    • Zac's Gaming Blog
Re: Is A Directional EMP A Reality Or Still SciFi?
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2020, 12:51:37 AM »
They're a real thing -- usually called HERF guns. You can shoot down drones with them. They're illegal in a lot of jurisdictions.

I think they are illegal everywhere.

I can't see how they would be used at range though as the inverse square law would seem to limit their use

Offline Ultravanillasmurf

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 9304
    • Ultravanillasmurf
Re: Is A Directional EMP A Reality Or Still SciFi?
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2020, 06:33:57 PM »
They are not strictly EMP guns, but more like MASERs.

Offline Brummie

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1358
  • Incoming!
Re: Is A Directional EMP A Reality Or Still SciFi?
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2020, 10:17:57 AM »
I think the main purpose of HERF guns is for countering small drones in CQ. A major concern was smaller drones are able to basically sneak up to you, especially in urban environments. Initially it was expected to just shoot them down. However someone pointed out its not easy shooting down a nippy floating object the size of a football; people might end up missing and shooting each other  lol.

As for EMPs, they've left speculation and are no longer restricted to detonating a nuke high up in the atmosphere. Initially it was hoped they'd be a good alternative to nukes for obvious reasons, but recently it was speculated that a powerful EMP would kill a lot of people too. Believe they can stop your heart.