Of course it is simplistic. A field expedient at best. But it is silly to think that China just called check mate on massed drones by fielding a microwave dish.
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Europe under extreme duress
- Thread starter Randy Daytona
- Start date
I don't know, the high power sparking/arcing seems like it'd be sub-optimal inside a confined space, but I only majored in PoliSci, so maybe we're both full of shit.Actually they were using bits of “foil” space blankets but…if you need help from an old History major, here is some science for you.
“Reflective materials such as aluminum stop microwaves by reflecting the electric part of the wave, while absorptive materials like conductive foam or rubber absorb the magnetic energy of the radiation.”
A Guide to Microwave Shielding Materials
Learn about the different options for microwave shielding materials, their specific properties, and everything else about them.haitmfg.com
Who said check mate? The discussion veered toward drone swarms. The HPM C-UAS system is interesting and relevant.
Then here we are…two liberal arts types in agreement. The world is a beautiful place.
It is more simplistic to think that it won't be 'exceptionally difficult' to 'harden' UAV's/drones against HPM or other directed energy weapons. It is unwise to dismiss, discount or diminish counter-UAV systems and/or Chinese systems in general nowadays. They have their limitations but plenty of capabilities as well.
I’ve done neither…maybe I have too much faith in engineers?
Engineering and science cuts both ways (offense/defense).
A perfectly solid box is totally proofed against any level of RF or HPM energy, and even EM to some extent (gamma rays would object, for example). Unfortunately, a solid box isn’t really useful for doing things like sensing…or moving control surfaces….or communicating.
We do blue on blue torture testing where we put shit through the beam patterns of the giant billboard sized antenna that is putting out metric fuck tons of RF energy. There’s a reason you want that ship to secure its radar when you are landing…otherwise your radios and circuit breakers start popping off or I get to read another report of how a pilot’s helmet suddenly “felt hot” on approach. So, yeah, bad shit happens if you throw enough RF at something that is electromechanical.
Point is, shit can be done, but imposes penalties in other areas, which is why we only do it to a point with flying vehicles, even where we know we will have to intentionally fly through the beam patterns of a gigantic radar. And that radar, while way more powerful than any mass fielded mobile ground system will be, is tuned for sensing, not deliberately cooking electronics.
Those are drive-in movie screens…I know because nobody spies like us and I passed the RVIS exam.