The History and Use of Electromagnetic Weapons

Abstract

This thesis is about the origin and development of electromagnetic weapons used in policing and military tasks as a non-lethal tool. The electromagnetic weapon was taken into consideration as a military or police means of antipersonnel engagement in the late 1970s. In the 1980s the USA conducted some defense programs towards development of lethal high energy laser weapons, to shoot down ballistic missiles and high-power microwave weapons designed to destroy electronic equipment. This technology was adapted by US Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD) to construct new or adapted non-lethal delivery systems, which could be used in military operations. Until late 1990s several types of electromagnetic weapons were created and taken into account for practical use. The most important were: Active Denial System and electromagnetic pulse generators devices, for example E-bomb, which was probably used against Iraq in 2003 war.