Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neva30 on 16/03/2009 12:28:52

Title: Could this tech be used to destroy landmines?
Post by: neva30 on 16/03/2009 12:28:52

Seen this post from Wired magazine about new EMP weapons developed by the US military.

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2009/03/army-turns-bomb.html

I was wondering if this could provide a far easier way to destroy the millions of landmines scattered around the world's warzones. Are landmines ordinarily triggered by circuits and would they be delicate enough to be fried by the resulting electromagnetic pulse.

Title: Could this tech be used to destroy landmines?
Post by: graham.d on 16/03/2009 14:16:39

As far as I know most landmine triggers are mechanical rather than electronic so unless you triggered one of these EM warheads right over a landmine, it probably won't cause it to explode.

It is an interesting military development though, at least from just a technological perspective. It's hard to think of a humanitarian use for it. I suppose it may be regarded as primarily defensive in that it only takes out your opponents weapon systems (and the occasional operator).

Title: Could this tech be used to destroy landmines?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 16/03/2009 18:41:47

I've wondered before about whether police could use a small EMP to disable a criminals getaway car, etc.

Would this be practical?

Title: Could this tech be used to destroy landmines?
Post by: graham.d on 16/03/2009 18:52:59

Quote from: Madidus_Scientia on 16/03/2009 18:41:47

I've wondered before about whether police could use a small EMP to disable a criminals getaway car, etc.

Would this be practical?

Maybe, though the problem maybe the definition of small. This new technique has the potential to allow that. It is a lot safer than exploding a small nuclear device anyhow.