HL Deb 27 June 2003 vol 650 cc48-9WA
Lord Jopling

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Over how wide an area would the engines of motor vehicles be immobilized as a consequence of nuclear explosions of varying force; whether this would affect diesel engines; how those affected engines could be reactivated; and at what approximate cost. [HL3124]

Lord Davies of Oldham

A typical exo-atmospheric burst as defined by, for example, DEF STAN 59–41 would produce large electromagnetic fields from the electromagnetic pulse over most of Western Europe. These fields would be sufficiently strong to produce a variety of disruptive effects on electronics-rich systems, including those employed in motor vehicles such as sensors and computer-based engine management systems (EMS). Diesel engines would be likely to be affected when EMS were used. For example, modern diesel engines use a fuel injection system based on common fuel rail configuration whereby fuel metering is controlled at each injector via an EMS. The effects would be seen as a random disruption of the performance and would most likely be manifest in engine stalling behaviour. It is unlikely that permanent damage or disruption would occur and the engines would usually be able to restart once the EMP event had passed. On some occasions EMS may require resetting by a complete power off/on recycling or a workshop-based reprogramming operation. As an aside, any motor vehicle with an immobilizer, engine, gearbox and/or suspension electronic management system could be affected by EMP.

The disruption from an endo-atmospheric or ground burst would be via a combination of the following physical effects rather than just from EMP: initial nuclear radiation, source EMP, thermal pulse, blast and residual radiation.

Lord Jopling

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any recent research has discovered methods of protecting motor vehicles from being disabled as a consequence of a nuclear explosion. [HL3126]

Lord Davies of Oldham

Techniques to protect equipment from the effects of the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) produced by nuclear explosions are well known and implementation for military vehicles is mandated by, for example, DEF STAN 23-6 (common technical requirements for military logistic vehicles and towed equipment). Specific techniques for hardening against all electromagnetic hazards (including EMP) are contained in guideline documents such as those produced under the Ministry of Defence's corporate research programme.