Fiscal Year	2023
Division	Research & Sponsored Programs
Department	Naval Research Program
Investigator(s)	Eldred, Ross A.
Sponsor	NPS Naval Research Program (Navy)
Summary	The electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon is a highly-disruptive effector against modern combat systems and an increasingly-potent threat in the era of Great Power Competition. The nuclear EMP has been available for decades but has limited battlefield utility beyond strategic deterrence, especially between nuclear-armed powers or within the Grey Zone spectrum of conflict. The ability to deny the enemy the use of the digital space entirely - not just jam electromagnetic communications - is a very potent arrow in the commander's quiver. Although less commonly known, the tactical EMP presents a scalable tool for the denial of the digital space and has perhaps never had ground so fertile for development and implementation as it enjoys today. Furthermore, the ability to deploy these effects via relatively-expendable, clandestinely-delivered platforms, at a time of our choosing, while safe-guarding the systems from their own effects, is a powerful, disruptive combination. We propose to build upon substantial previous work with the following tasks: 1) Assess the current state-of-the-art in EMP technology, 2) Identify real-world operational scenarios that might incorporate tactical EMP use, augmenting the PI's previous research and CONOPS known as the Kelp Road Initiative, which established the strategic framework for the implementation of "effects delivery mechanisms" such as tactical EMP, and 3) expand upon the design of our current, patent-pending, spherical autonomous underwater vehicle (SAUV), WIEVLE, to support above-surface payload delivery of an integrated tactical EMP - from the seabed to the target - via remote activation for scalable EMP effects delivery. Alternative sub-systems for enabling protected, passive loitering in the operational area, such as the PI's patent-pending Resetting Anchor Antenna Tether Mechanism (RAATM) will be examined. Deliverables include (at a minimum) quarterly IPRs, project briefs, and a comprehensive report.
Keywords	electro magnetic pulse, EMP, NSW, SOF,
Publications	Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data	Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal