Wouldn’t a highly developed weapons system be required to launch an EMP attack?
ICBMs are only one way of delivering such an attack. A rogue nation could launch a lower cost, short range missile from a freighter just 12 miles off the US coast to achieve an EMP effect. The EMP Commission warns that ANY nuclear weapon – even a low yield one – could cause a catastrophic EMP event. Early warning satellite and radar systems would not provide enough time to react. Despite the best technologies and efforts, a ship-launched missile would have an abbreviated trajectory that would not allow enough time for an early warning. Additionally, no such warning systems exist to provide advance notice or protection against a geomagnetic storm.
