Originally posted by WilldCrd
its been said that a small EMP device was used in desert storm
That's interesting. I'm not familiar with this event. Would you happen to have a link? I would suspect that the device (if it was in fact deployed) was likely of limited capability and range. This is not to say the USA (and other countries) aren't working to develop them, but there are many operational constraints associated with the use of such a weapon. They are most likely (IMO) to be useful in very specific circumstances, such as against fixed targets like air defenses. Fracticide would be a concern, though our own weapon systems are generally hardened against EMP to varying degrees. They could however be a devestating weapon against soft targets. As a terror weapon, they could cause all kinds of chaos. However, like nuclear weapons they are likely to be very sophisticated and hard to come by.
Originally posted by WilldCrd
Hell there is a episode of Futureweapons where they demonstrate its use
Note the name of the series ("Future"), and that I said "have not
yet been used" Nonetheless, I would perhaps alter my statement, in light of your comments, to read, "EMP weapons have not been used more than a couple times operationally, are sophisticated, hard to produce, and difficult to employ." Which leads me back to my point, which is that fly-by-wire combat a/c dominate and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. To put it another way, I'll take the F-22 over a Mig or Su anyday.
