ELECTRONIC WAR

The world is trying to avoid a possible war based on a deliberate transmission of radio interference waves which destroys the information systems of vital sectors and threatens national security using electromagnetic technologies. Scientific research and technology academies in a number of countries have therefore started to allocate funds for several scientific studies aimed at facing the risk of the so-called electromagnetic terrorism "which has become an important and crucial part and an essential pillar of a new war that the world is facing now: "the Information War". Many communications and electronics scientists and specialists believe that the most dangerous form of this war, the courses and tracks of which are controlled by the developed countries, can be seen in the continuous attempts to influence the information systems used for command, control and defense. Electromagnetic Systems: So the systems which are dependent on computers, communications networks and satellites are aimed at destroying the enemy's ability and paralyzing its movements before he ever begins to take decisions. Now the world is living the third wave of development. After the waves of agriculture and industry, now comes the electronic wave that has produced a civilization which is accelerating the pace of history, changing the quality of life and shaping a new age based on modern components. This electronic wave is by definition bringing an increased use of the system of facilities and technological equipment associated with the emission of electromagnetic radiations such as Radar systems, transmission towers, satellite receivers, telecommunication stations, high tension power transmission lines, mobile telephone networks, electromagnetic wave generation equipment and microwave ovens. It has been said that those products represent the positive side of the latest wave despite the risk it involves to human health when the permissible radiation levels are exceeded by the production or interception of electromagnetic energy through the use of sophisticated frequency generators and highly sensitive sensors. The extent of the electro optical spectrum includes the range of infra-red rays within the electromagnetic spectrum. The spectral range of 0.3 to 14 microns is the range more commonly used in the practical military application of the electro optical weapons systems due to weather conditions and the types of possible targets. There are two types of technology applied to modern electro optical systems: The thermal vision technology and the laser technology, each of which would normally be part of a complicated system such as a fire command system or a target identification system. Producing Clean Weapons: Since the turn of the century, companies have been busy trying to develop unconventional weapons capable of paralyzing the enemy and neutralizing his combat capability making it easier to the user to control the battle space. Such weapons include the so-called electromagnetic weapons which can produce micro-rays capable of neutralizing the enemy, whatever the size of his forces, in a circle not exceeding a few kilometers in diameter. It can also create an electromagnetic spectrum capable of turning electronic equipment ineffective and jamming computers. Those research initiatives are aimed at producing weapons which can crush enemies without causing economic damage to property, producing harmful waste or causing large-scale pollution. The ultimate goal is to achieve a so-called "clean war". It is possible to underline three main differences between electromagnetic weapons and conventional weapons: First: In arms weapons the required force for firing bullets or mineral shells is generated by the chemical combustion of gunpowder. Second: In electromagnetic weapons, thermal chemical or electrochemical generators and photo cells, or even nuclear cells, are used to produce radio energy required for producing a self-propelled non-corporeal projectile. Third: An electromagnetic gun or rifle would not assume the traditional shape of a tube, but would more accurately be likened to an antenna. The radio waves of electromagnetic weapons move at sound speed that is approximately 300 thousand kilometers per second far more than the speed of an ordinary projectile compared to the fastest missile known today which cannot exceed the threshold of 30 thousand kilometers an hour. While fire arms are classified according to their caliber, electromagnetic weapons' classification is based on the length of the radio waves they generate. There are five types of classified electromagnetic weapons identified as: - Weapons designed to extremely low frequency. - Weapons designed to long radio waves of low frequency.. - Weapons designed to high frequency microwaves. - Weapons designed to photoelectric cells. - Weapons designed to operate on electronics, ions or molecules. The first three classes belong to the type of waves known as the "hertzian waves". Early experimentation on the weapons operating on the low frequency long radio waves which came to be known as extremely low frequency (E.L.F) weapons with a frequency of zero to 30 hertz or super low frequency (S.L.F) weapons of 30 to 300 hertz started during the 1950s with the aim of establishing high capacity ELF and SLF transmission stations in order to create an extensive hertzian network linked to underwater submarines. But the US Navy soon dropped the project in favor of developing satellite communication technologies. What Are the Huge Damages Caused by These Waves? These waves are harmful although they do not destroy living cells. Yet the other damages caused are so exceedingly more serious. The shorter the wave and the higher its frequency is, the higher is the expected damage. Those waves can affect the functioning of psychological and biological systems in humans. Studies conducted by Professor Herbert Conaig of the University of Munich in the 1960s found that ELF and SLF radiations have had their effect in changing the reaction of persons subjected to them. Conaig also concluded that magnetic and non-ionized components of the radio waves can change the physio-chemical functions of the human body especially the work of the endocrine glands. Later in the 20th century, Dr. John Hammar made his own experiments at Northrobe space company laboratories and came to the same conclusions achieved by professor Conaig. The US Army is known to have carried out secret experiments on ionized short-wave electromagnetic energy. The Soviets have in turn, made an important development of these weapons. Microwave News Review reported that former Russian President Boris Yeltsin has supervised studies by the KGB aimed at "using un-ionized short waves to kill persons at long distances by stopping their heart beats". In the United States, studies for the development of these weapons are still going on in collaboration between the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice. Professor Bernard Ferry, director of the Radiation-material Physics laboratory at the University of Bordeaux is of the opinion that efforts for the manufacturing of electromagnetic weapons were originally initiated for the development of effective devices for the destruction of material targets especially electronic equipment but they were finally diverted to seeking the destruction of men at the same time. But what professor Ferry did not say is that there is now an arsenal of electromagnetic weapons in addition to killer radars which use radio waves and microwaves capable of generating a multi-billion watt power of radio energy stocked as part of the weapons arsenals of the United States of America. The purpose of these weapons is to target electronic equipment, but this did not stop some countries from targeting people as did a few countries in the former Soviet Union. As for the biological and molecular effects of radiations of different levels of energy, it is known that substance is affected by radiation up to certain limits depending on the energy produced. The effect of short waves of very high frequency such as X-rays or Gamma rays on substance may take the shape of removing one electron or more in an atom, for example, changing it into an ion. Its biological effect in this case, would be like rupturing the fibers of the DNA and stopping the ability of cells to divide. Radiations with greater wave lengths and lesser frequency such as ultraviolet rays would cause an excitation of atoms and cohesion of the DNA fibres rather than ruptures and would therefore have lighter effect compared to ionized rays. Thermal or microwave rays of high wavelengths and lesser frequency have effect on increasing the movement of water molecules and neutralizing them in a narrow space causing burns or other damage resulting from high temperature on the exposed location. Therefore, prototypes of these weapons were designed to be carried by helicopter planes whose basic task was to direct their tactical weapons through systems on board. These Russian experiments prompted the Americans to follow suit and they soon began, with the help of scientists from the former East European Bloc, to produce radiological and microwave weapons as well as generators of high energy microwaves. The set goal was to produce large quantities of electromagnetic energy and later launch them in the form of pulses or beams. By using special types of antennae to control the geography and limits of extension of the magnetic field, the Americans tried to have this energy condensed toward certain objects (first using animal herds like rams and sheep). On march 2, 2001, the New York Times published a report saying that the US Department of Defense has produced a new weapon that uses electromagnetic waves to disperse demonstrations within the reach of a 900-meter long radio beam. The weapon was said to cause pains similar to surface burns on the skin. The report likened the weapon to new style rubber bullets of the 21st century. But that was not all. The newspaper ignored the issue of the high microwave energy generators capable of producing high frequency waves whose power is equal to the power of nuclear weapons. These "electromagnetic bombs" can be carried by long range ballistic missiles of "Cruise" or "Tomahawk" types as well as "Apache" and "Black Hawk" aircraft. These electromagnetic bombs can be dropped like classical bombs and within a fraction of a second from their explosion they will generate a tremendous energy estimated at billions of amperes which will cover a circle at least one mile in diameter. The power of explosion of an electromagnetic bomb is estimated at approximately 300 billion watts. "Exposing a man to such energy", wrote French magazine Science IV, "is like throwing him into a large microwave oven to burn him alive". Although there is no known party who has, so far, made an official announcement on testing or using electromagnetic weapons in real well-known battles, the results of testing them on animals were amazing, as claimed by their producers. The question is: Will the results remain amazing, and will these weapons continue to have a major role if the enemy is deployed in entrenched locations protected against direct exposure to the beams? Deliberate Use Egypt's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Mufeed Chehab has announced that the greatest danger from this electronic wave is the risk of deliberate use known as "electromagnetic terrorism". Such terrorism, he said, can be unleashed by generating electromagnetic waves and spreading them with the aim of destroying or jamming electronic equipment. Otherwise the goal could be to destroy defense and control systems and computer systems of banks, institutions, hospitals, the civil aviation and national security. The ultimate goal would be to destroy the capabilities of an adversary or rival or neutralize his ability to move before he begins to think of taking action. He noted that there is a military inclination by some for the deliberate use of the electromagnetic waves and their interpenetrations saying that such deliberate use has many forms including the use of high intensity electromagnetic waves for interfering electronic equipment or using waves of much higher intensity to destroy the sensitive components of electronic equipment. Also stopping electronic equipment. He said the electromagnetic pulse accompanying the high level bomb explosions cause damage to sensitive components of electronic equipment. Dr. Chehab said, however, that interference may reach the electronic equipment targeted for jamming either through the antennae of telecommunication equipment or radar system, or through transmitting and receiving signals, power supply lines by direct injection of interference signals or by making the lines pick it from deliberately spread electromagnetic beams. For a deliberate interference made by remote controlled electromagnetic waves to reach the targeted equipment, high powered transmitters must be used for the transmission of the interference along with the use of highly directive antennae to direct the interference signals to the target. Dr. Chehab confirmed that these jamming techniques have traditionally been used in electronic warfare against radar systems and communications. He said interference can be higher than the receiving signal in the communication equipment or radar, hence making the equipment unable to pick the required information, or it may otherwise take the form of the smart use of pulses such as radar systems or computers, where it is possible to send misleading information to such equipment. Interference Weapons On the same subject, Dr. Abdul Hadi Ammar, a lecturer at the College of Engineering, Al-Azhar University and leader of the research team assigned to study the problem of electromagnetic terrorism, revealed that this dangerous weapon originated in Russia with the aim of overcoming the advanced electronic equipment owned by the Western Countries but was later developed to become a general trend of using electromagnetic weapons, based on this principle. Not only that, he said, but the developed countries, especially the nuclear powers, have even designed nuclear bombs with a radiation to the electromagnetic pulse which has a very high energy to be used mainly for the purpose of destroying electronic equipment. A parallel effort was directed to the deign of antennae for the transmission of pulses in the direction of the target. Therefore, many countries are turning their attention to the study of this discipline to uncover the levels at which they can affect the work of equipment through pulses when they use their own protection procedures. Fortunately, this destructive trend of manufacturing these electromagnetic weapons was accompanied by a simultaneous trend for the protection of electronic equipment from the threat of high capacity electromagnetic waves, the most dangerous weapon of an escalating war among countries around the world and a means that the superpowers want to use to dominate and control the weaker nations. There are the so-called multiple electromagnetic barriers, high frequency filters, adequate cable wiring that prevents electromagnetic wave penetration through electronic equipment which are increasingly being used in the fields of communication, transfer of information, computers, banks, hospitals, civil aviation, national security, satellites and almost all walks of life. In the same context, American researchers have also succeeded in the development of an electronic weapon which can send radiological waves capable of jamming any electronic equipment in a few seconds. Amateurs can also design this type of weapon using power circuit components available from any store selling electronic tools making it easy for terrorist groups to carry it and use it to disable electronic equipment and systems used by institutions, companies, banks, hospitals and airports. The website "pcworld.com" quoted Randy Bernard, vice president of Schriner Engineering Company whose engineers have developed the new radiological weapon and showed it in a presentation attended by US Government experts, as saying that the weapon sends out fast and intense gushes of radio waves which destroy any unprotected electronic equipment, such as personal computers, home-installed security systems, scanners (used by police) or medical equipment and air traffic control systems. The use of the Radio weapon demonstrated to the US security and defense experts had a very bad effect on electronic equipment causing the computer monitors to shake or freeze, stopping medical equipment and thief protection security systems. A video camera purchased for the special purpose of filming the new weapon’s demonstration was also malfunctioning. The weapon designers said they bought all the components from ordinary stores or through the internet at a cost of ten thousand dollars. New testing is now planned before a second run of the weapon’s demonstration is made next summer. After the demonstration, the US Department of Defense announced that it has allocated 4 million dollars for new research on this type of radio weapons and to prevent terrorist groups from developing them. Weapons of the Next Century: According to strategic expert Paul Beaver future military equipment will be more invisible, more sophisticated and less costly. Beaver believes that development will be in the field of military aeronautical technology. US military experts believe that by the start of the third decade of the next century, more than half the US Air Force will consist of drones. It is expected that these planes will go through highly complicated advancement and ability to disguise which will make it difficult for the enemy to detect them. The ability to disguise will also be applied to other military equipment such as warships, tanks and other. The high development of information technology, easy communication on the ground and in space will complicate the role of intelligence agencies and add to the importance of on spot information for the assignment of tasks, decision making and the speedy implementation of orders. The information war has become a solid fact after the ability of the computers microprocessor for extensive deployment was increased. Other factors include the advancement of sensors’ technology, fast response in operation and contact to save more energy for the engagement in battles. There is moreover, the big advancements made in digital technology and the consequent rise of the so-called Broadband transmission lines and the development of the ability of the technology of optical fibers to transfer audio-visual data and information in computers. The possession of such power – according to a former European official who was in charge of armament coordination among NATO allies – gives the owner upper hand in the management of any crisis. “Virtual Reality” now plays a major role in defense operations as it offers numerous ways usable in planning battle games using computers. According to a report published by US-Based Time Magazine, the Pentagon is now studying the secret developments of the information war achieved in the past few years and analyzing results in order to see how to use such technologies in future warfare. Testing the Electromagnetic Waves Observers are looking at America’s ability to produce and develop software weapons that can be used in future wars. Modern technology weapons, as witnessed in the Second Gulf War, have demonstrated a terrible ability for the mass slaughtering of people. Washington believes that future wars can be fought and won without loss of life by using information war and by resorting to non lethal war. The future battlefield will be the cyber space and warriors will be the cyber knights who master the software skills and other modern technology ways and will be armed with viruses, bombs and electronic worms to attack the enemy’s computers. It is noteworthy that such viruses and electromagnetic pulses can be used to destroy aircraft systems such as navigation systems, communications, security, computers and electronic take off and landing aids. It has been said that the most likely cause of the TWA plane crash on the east coast of the United States was the use of these weapons. Some developed countries are testing the possibility of using high capacity electromagnetic waves for heating the ionosphere layer to hamper telecommunication systems that use it or path through it in an adversary or rival country. There is, moreover, the so-called electromagnetic tapping eavesdropping which uses highly sensitive devices to capture very week emissions of electronic equipment, such as computers. The technique is widely used to target strategic centers affecting national security, but it is also used to uncover industrial secrets or confidential bank dealings. History records that the first ever computers originated in the battlefield, for it was discovered by US military experts who were the first to create the electronic network back in the 1960s and gave it the name – AR PANET – after the work was funded by the US Department of Defense. Today, it was a surprise to see that computers, who have always been so peaceful and friendly at home and in the work place, are now showing their military teeth in wars that the computer will probably create to show off its destructive intelligence.