NationStates Jolt Archive

Xylion Industries, a subsidiary of the Doujin Corp., is proud to unveil its latest project, an EMP VLS system.

This project has been worked on for a long time, and consists of modifying the standard Tomahawk anti-ship missile to deliver a massive elctro-magnetic pulse instead of a high-explosive yeild. The missile itself has a range of 200 nautical miles, and each missile in the system carries a different frequency pulse. This allows the missile as a barrage to destroy the systems of even a battleship, regardless of EM shielding.

Once the systems are destroyed, the enemy ship can be salvaged and re-equipped for use in your own navy. Ingenious, no?

The system itself is quite heavy, however, increasing the displacement by at least 60 tons. It also takes up the same amount of space as a comparable 48-cell VLS. However, we at Xylion Industries believe the tradeoff is worth it.

The EMP VLS is currently unavailable for sale, though nations may place bids for co-production rights.

A suggestion: you could just sell the missile proper rather than an entire missile complex. A Mk.41 VLS ought to be able to launch the missile if it has characteristics similar to the Tomahawk. To force a nation to equip its ships with a completely new VLS for one missile can be a bit too pricey for many.

An interesting idea, of course - but ineffective against certain ships. All Doujin ships are EMP shielded, so if you were up against an adversary with Doujin vessels.. well, your SOL.

Well, even modern day RL ships carry extensive EMP protection as part of their NBC survival gear. Although, its an original idea and probably would have a considerable (if temporary) effect against radars and other external sensors.

My advice is to market it as a Land Attack Weapon. Most battlefield theatre weapons have much less EMP protection than ships do, and because and the much greater need for low level communication, such an EMP system would be very effective.

That's precisely the reason that each missile carries a completely different pulse frequency. Unless I understand EM shielding wrong, it can only protect against certain pulses. The pulses in the 16-cell EMP VLS are widespread, therefore at least one of them would punch through to the command center.

It depends on the shielding you use.

EMP shielding can take a number of forms. You can generate a reverse magnetic effect a number of ways (usually with a faraday cage like structure), the use of certain types of electronics (pre-microchip Russian comp modules, though slow, were highly resistant to attack), good earthing to dispel the electronic charge safely, and the extensive use of non-conducting materials throughout the ships structure.

Another point is that replacement of the Mk.48 system will leave the vessel with little other offensive capability. The Mk.48 is usually a fundemental part of the ships armament, and without it many ships in NS have no effective SSM and SAM capability.

And, most Guns on board ships can function mechanically, as can their gunnery, and can effectively defend themselves from attack even if they lose their higher end electronic systems to an EMP attack.

All valid points.

However, many ships now have multiple Mark.48 systems, and usually a fleet will have numerous missile destroyers. One or two ships with the EMP VLS could easily stay near the back and launch their payloads while the other ships defend them.

Also, guns are fairly easy to destroy nowadays with advanced radar and Tomahawks.

The EMP Tomahawk cannot be sold as of yet individually, as the launcher itself needs to be degaused a special way after every launch.