The U.S. Army is investigating the possibility of creating electromagnetic pulse grenades to disable the radio transmitters on improvised explosive devices.
According to its latest series of research contracts with small businesses, the Army wants to design “high power microwave grenades” to “generate an electromagnetic pulse that could be used to defeat the electronics used to activate [homemade bombs].” Troops currently rely on explosive ordnance demolition specialists, bomb-disposing robots and vehicle-mounted, signal-jamming equipment to disable IEDs; the use of EMP grenades could allow an individual soldier to remove an IED while minimizing loss of life.
The Army is requiring companies participating in the project to design their prototypes similar to the size of “hand or robot delivered munitions, 40mm grenades, rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and Stinger, Hydra and Javelin missiles.” The companies are allowed to design either an explosive or non-explosive design.
