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U.S. Deploys Satellite Jamming System

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i-can't-hear-you-nya-nya-nya dept.

CNN has an article about a ground-based satellite jamming system that "uses electromagnetic radio frequency energy to knock out transmissions on a temporary and reversible basis, without frying components". Is this just another old school EM jamming technique, or something new? Of course they won't say, citing "operational security" concerns.

11 of 342 comments (clear)

  1. Thin ice by fembots · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This whole control of space thing is approaching the thin line between annoyed and pissed.

    While USAF claims this "ground-based jammer uses electromagnetic radio frequency energy to knock out transmissions on a temporary and reversible basis, without frying components", it will only take one mistake (and it's not that unusual) to fry someone's $500mil baby.

    If other countries even dare to think about developing a similar jammer to "neutralize" US's satellite communication and its space-based capabilities, it's likely that US will simply launch another pre-emptive attack to destroy those jammers in these countries.

    --
    Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
    1. Re:Thin ice by nightsweat · · Score: 5, Funny

      $500 million baby? I can get you one for $143.50 on the Internet.

      --

      the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
    2. Re:Thin ice by ajs · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This whole control of space thing is approaching the thin line between annoyed and pissed.

      Ah... yes, well I'll assume you meant that YOU are getting annoyed.

      While USAF claims this [...] jammer [...is...] temporary and reversible [...] it will only take one mistake (and it's not that unusual) to fry someone's $500mil baby.

      How often does this particular jamming technology fry satellites? Really, how often? Heck, you don't even know what this *is*, must less what its failure modes are. ANY complaint about this technology must be on the grounds of lack of information (kind of strange to complain about THIS instead of the dozens of other, far more problematic items that the US military refuses to discuss) or on the grounds that the US feels it has the right to unilaterally develop technology to disable other country's communications (again, I'd start with the MONITORING of communications which is ONGOING rather than the chance that the US MIGHT block communications in the future).

      Anything else is arm waving.

      If other countries even dare to think about developing a similar jammer to "neutralize" US's satellite communication and its space-based capabilities, it's likely that US will simply launch another pre-emptive attack to destroy those jammers in these countries.

      Doubtful. Of the countries that have the capabilities to do so, only one is not an ally, and I don't think we'd invade China over THIS.

    3. Re:Thin ice by kin_korn_karn · · Score: 5, Informative

      "Anti-radiation missile" is a military term for anti-radar missiles like the Shrike and HARM, or for EU types the ALARM. Doesn't have anything to do with nuclear radiation.

  2. Sounds familiar... by Sensible+Clod · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe this was a beta version?

    --

    The difference between spam and poop is that you don't have to dig through septic tanks looking for real food. -- Me
  3. I would have gotten 1st post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But i suspect my wifi was temporarily jammed

  4. Cool! by lottameez · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think the USAF could easily recoup their investment if they allowed people to "vote" TV channels off of satellite comms. $1 a minute to jam the signal. No more QVC, goodbye to MTV-trash - yippee!

    --
    Yeah? Well I think you're overrated too.
  5. Rasberry! by Supero100 · · Score: 5, Funny


    "Raspberry! I hate Raspberry!"

  6. Probably old school by dougmc · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Is this just another old school EM jamming technique, or something new?
    Old school jamming techniques will be quite effective. You find out what the uplink frequency band is, and hit the satellite with a few thousand watts on that band using a high gain antenna. No commands will be received while your jamming is in effect.

    Now, jamming the downlink is harder, but if you hit the satellite with enough power on any band, it'll freak out. With a highly directional antenna, you could even take out only a specific satellite.

    Satellites do have to deal with ionizing radiation and can't have enough shielding to totally block it, so they're equipped to reset themselves when they get `stuck' because some IC got hit with a stray alpha particle -- because it's not *if* it will happen, it's *when*.

    Of course, if you hit the satellite with enough power, you may actually damage it. If that happens, you just play dumb. Sure, it may have happened while the satellite was over the US (or a US base, or US ship), but that was just a coincidence, right?

    I guess a new school jamming technique might be to actually hit it with ionizing radiation (typically X and gamma rays, and high energy electrons and protons (often with some neutrons in the form of an alpha particle) but these are generally attenutated greatly by the atmosphere (and the charged particles diverted by our magnetic field), so this would be hard to do from the ground. But I guess if you can make it strong enough, or do it from a tall mountain/plane flying above most of our atmosphere ...

  7. Re:tool of terrorism? by Shihar · · Score: 5, Funny

    Look, when 9/11 happened the Americans went nuts. They ended up whacking off two nations. Think about it. The American response to two buildings being destroy was to take out two ENTIRE NATIONS. That is like responding to two guys getting shot by taking out two towns. So, you understand the American prepensely to overreact a little.

    Now, considering the American psyche, what kind of fucking idiot would you have to be to take out all American TV. You thought they were on a rampage after two buildings fell? Shit, if someone took out American TV, especially during the Superbowl I would go look for the nearest fallout shelter and come out 100,000 years later to open a very profitable glass business. Why glass you ask? Because that kind of nuclear holocaust, that is all that is left.

    Blow up the Statue of Liberty, the White House, and Wall Street, but for the sake of the rest of world, leave the American heart and soul intact and leave TV alone.

  8. Tactics and strategy in electronic warfare by Sai+Babu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Jamming is a traditional tactic in electroninc warfare.

    The capability of locating an uplink based on signals received from a satellite is of much greater strategic value then destruction of the satellite. This is true for all engaged parties.

    So why jam at all?
    Suppose something like a cruise missle with partial guidance from a satellite is on it's way to your ship. Ideally you would want to co-opt the satellite and take some control. However, when the time comes, the last thing you want is the correct information to reach the missle. Here jamming makes sense. Without jamming capability a situation might arise in which the strategic value
    to you, of your oppositions satellite, is greater than the value of your ship!

    Come on /.ers You guys play strategy and tactics games all the time...

    --
    Now I'm the grandest Tiger in the Jungle!