Latest news with #Forstchen
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nuclear EMP attack moves to big screen as author reflects on 'invisible lifeline'
Author William R. Forstchen's bestselling novel "One Second After" – which imagines the devastating effects of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) strike on the United States – is being adapted into a feature film. The screenplay will be written by renowned sci-fi writer J. Michael Straczynski, with Forstchen himself serving as an executive producer. Fox News Digital spoke with Forstchen about the real-world inspiration behind his work and why he warns that an EMP attack is a looming threat, not just science fiction. "I wanted to write an accurate, a very accurate story of what would happen in a small town in North Carolina if the power went off, and it never came back on," he said. Us 'Golden Dome' Back In Play As 'Insurance Policy' Decades After Regan's Cold Proposal Forstchen was wrapping up his Ph.D. at Purdue University when he began pursuing a novel on an EMP attack on the United States. Read On The Fox News App He said that he struggled to get the novel off the ground and clarify his ideas until he had a "God moment" at his graduation. "I call it a 'God moment.' I was sitting there, sweating in my robes, looking at the students and parents, and it just hit me – write about us, write about my town." The moment of inspiration led him back to his hometown – near Asheville, North Carolina – where he began the task of writing an accurate, compelling version of events following the devastation of an EMP attack. Forstchen began the process of writing and drew inspiration from key figures in his hometown. "I started interviewing people like crazy – police chief, pharmacist – and I learned how deeply everything depends on that invisible lifeline of electricity," he said. He pointed to the interview with the local pharmacist, who he shared had been left crying after considering what would happen following an EMP strike. "I started interviewing people like crazy. I'll never forget finishing talking with the police chief. And I said, 'All right, Jack, what would you do? And he picked up the phone, and he said, wait a minute, the phones don't work anymore, do they?'" he said. "I learned that the pharmacist knows the people more than anybody. They're the ones giving out the heart medication, the anti-psychotic, and she started writing down this long list of people who would be dead in two to three months," he said. Nuclear Emp Attack: How Us, Americans Can Prepare For 'Very Real Threat,' Expert Says From dozens of interviews, Forstchen crafted his novel together. "One Second After" was published in 2009 and remains on the bestseller list. The novel is now being adapted into an MPI original film in association with Startling Inc. The feature film is being penned by Straczynski, with Forstchen serving as an executive producer. Scott Rogers is directing the film, which is scheduled to begin shooting in Bulgaria this September. WATCH: US should prepare for nuclear EMP attack, expert warns Fox News Digital previously spoke with Forstchen about an EMP strike, who said that the threat is "very real." "EMP is generated when a small nuclear weapon, 40 to 60 kilotons or about three times the size of a Hiroshima bomb, is detonated 200 miles out in space above the United States. It sets up an electrostatic discharge, which cascades to the Earth's surface, feeds into the millions of miles of wires which become antennas, feeds this into the power grid, overloads the grid and blows it out," he said. Trump Says That Iron Dome Construction Will Be 'Immediate,' Signs Executive Order Forstchen, citing Congressional reports from 2002 and 2008, said that 80% to 90% of Americans would be dead a year later if an EMP strike were to happen. "The threat of an EMP was first realized during the 1962 Starfish Prime high-altitude nuclear test. What happened was that it blew about 500 miles away from Hawaii and 200 miles up," he said. "They were able to bring the system back within a matter of days, but what would it be like if it took a month, six months, a year, or five years to fix?" The late Peter Pry, a nuclear weapons expert and former staff director at the Congressional EMP Commission, agreed. Before his death in 2022, Pry warned that Kim Jong Un's launch of a high-altitude ballistic missile was a test of North Korea's EMP capabilities against the United States. "Cars would be paralyzed," Pry told Fox Business in May 2017. "Airplanes could fall out of the sky. You'd have natural gas pipeline explosions, nuclear reactor overloads. And worst of all, if you had a protracted blackout, it would be a serious threat to the survival of the American people."Original article source: Nuclear EMP attack moves to big screen as author reflects on 'invisible lifeline'
Fox News
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Nuclear EMP attack moves to big screen as author reflects on 'invisible lifeline'
Author William R. Forstchen's bestselling novel "One Second After" – which imagines the devastating effects of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) strike on the United States – is being adapted into a feature film. The screenplay will be written by renowned sci-fi writer J. Michael Straczynski, with Forstchen himself serving as an executive producer. Fox News Digital spoke with Forstchen about the real-world inspiration behind his work and why he warns that an EMP attack is a looming threat, not just science fiction. "I wanted to write an accurate, a very accurate story of what would happen in a small town in North Carolina if the power went off, and it never came back on," he said. Forstchen was wrapping up his Ph.D. at Purdue University when he began pursuing a novel on an EMP attack on the United States. He said that he struggled to get the novel off the ground and clarify his ideas until he had a "God moment" at his graduation. "I call it a 'God moment.' I was sitting there, sweating in my robes, looking at the students and parents, and it just hit me – write about us, write about my town." The moment of inspiration led him back to his hometown – near Asheville, North Carolina – where he began the task of writing an accurate, compelling version of events following the devastation of an EMP attack. Forstchen began the process of writing and drew inspiration from key figures in his hometown. "I started interviewing people like crazy – police chief, pharmacist – and I learned how deeply everything depends on that invisible lifeline of electricity," he said. He pointed to the interview with the local pharmacist, who he shared had been left crying after considering what would happen following an EMP strike. "I started interviewing people like crazy. I'll never forget finishing talking with the police chief. And I said, 'All right, Jack, what would you do? And he picked up the phone, and he said, wait a minute, the phones don't work anymore, do they?'" he said. "I learned that the pharmacist knows the people more than anybody. They're the ones giving out the heart medication, the anti-psychotic, and she started writing down this long list of people who would be dead in two to three months," he said. From dozens of interviews, Forstchen crafted his novel together. "One Second After" was published in 2009 and remains on the bestseller list. The novel is now being adapted into an MPI original film in association with Startling Inc. The feature film is being penned by Straczynski, with Forstchen serving as an executive producer. Scott Rogers is directing the film, which is scheduled to begin shooting in Bulgaria this September. WATCH: US should prepare for nuclear EMP attack, expert warns Fox News Digital previously spoke with Forstchen about an EMP strike, who said that the threat is "very real." "EMP is generated when a small nuclear weapon, 40 to 60 kilotons or about three times the size of a Hiroshima bomb, is detonated 200 miles out in space above the United States. It sets up an electrostatic discharge, which cascades to the Earth's surface, feeds into the millions of miles of wires which become antennas, feeds this into the power grid, overloads the grid and blows it out," he said. Forstchen, citing Congressional reports from 2002 and 2008, said that 80% to 90% of Americans would be dead a year later if an EMP strike were to happen. "The threat of an EMP was first realized during the 1962 Starfish Prime high-altitude nuclear test. What happened was that it blew about 500 miles away from Hawaii and 200 miles up," he said. "They were able to bring the system back within a matter of days, but what would it be like if it took a month, six months, a year, or five years to fix?" The late Peter Pry, a nuclear weapons expert and former staff director at the Congressional EMP Commission, agreed. Before his death in 2022, Pry warned that Kim Jong Un's launch of a high-altitude ballistic missile was a test of North Korea's EMP capabilities against the United States. "Cars would be paralyzed," Pry told Fox Business in May 2017. "Airplanes could fall out of the sky. You'd have natural gas pipeline explosions, nuclear reactor overloads. And worst of all, if you had a protracted blackout, it would be a serious threat to the survival of the American people."
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Nuke strike could plunge US into blackout like Spain at ANY minute – weapon Trump needs now to protect 340million people
AMERICA must install a missile defence shield before the country's electrical grid is wiped out in a nuke strike, an expert has warned. Donald Trump has signed an executive order to construct a futuristic "Golden Dome" to banish threats from countries including Iran. 7 An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere Credit: Department of Homeland Security 7 Israel's Iron Dome air defence system intercepts missiles launched from the Gaza Strip Credit: EPA 7 Donald Trump wants to install a Golden Dome to protect the US Credit: AFP But with both Tehran and North Korea rapidly accelerating nuclear development, military historian William R. Forstchen has warned the US needs a defence system sooner rather than later. Trump has long been fascinated by Israel's technological marvel that is the Iron Dome and wants to build something much more complex and expensive. While the Iron Dome effectively intercepts short-range missiles and rockets, the Golden Dome would need to shoot down much larger and powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles. Forstchen told The Sun: "Golden dome is designed as a ballistic defense system for intercontinental. "It is a strategic defence that would prevent any enemy attack from coming across the Pacific Ocean to hit our facilities with an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) hit, which would wipe out our electrical infrastructure. "The big fear I've always held is that North Korea has the capacity to launch an ICBM with a nuclear warhead on top. "When it's detonated above the continental United States, it sets up something called the Compton effect, which blows out the electrical grid of the United States. "This is a system designed to defend against that." But right now, Forstchen warned America will be "screwed" if North Korea or Iran unleashes just three small nuclear on the US - making it more vital than ever that Trump sees through his plan. It could see the US plunged into darkness like Spain and Portugal last Monday. Trump says Iran deal is 'well on its way' - as regime builds ring of steel around deeply buried nuclear fortresses Forstchen said: "I grew up in the 60s and 70s. It was called mutually assured Destruction. "The big fear back then was the Soviets would launch hundreds of missiles at us. "We would launch at them. Everybody blows up. Nobody wins the game. Well, it's a different paradigm now. "Third world players, in particular North Korea and Iran, if it ever achieves nuclear capability, they just have to launch three small warheads about four times the size of a Hiroshima bomb. "Get it up there 200 miles out. When the weapon blows, it sets up an electrostatic discharge called the Compton effect. "That shorts our grid off. The grid is not going. It doesn't self-repair. It does not come back online. And basically, to put it in common terminology, we're screwed." European power outage by Patrick Harrington, Foreign News Reporter MILLIONS were left without power when blackouts struck Spain, Portugal and parts of southern France on Monday. Spain says it is focusing on "overcoming the worst" and identifying the cause of what was the continent's largest power outage. At the worst point on early Monday afternoon, airports and hospitals shut down and trains screeched to a halt. Footage showed people queuing outside grocery stores and ATMs to stockpile essentials amid fears the mayhem could last for days. Roads in Spain, Portugal and parts of France were left snarled up with traffic as lights and signals went blank - with emergency officers drafted in to tackle the bedlam. Some hospitals cancelled all surgeries for Monday amid fears for patient safety in the region's most severe blackout for years. Spain's train service came to a complete stop, leaving huge crowds stranded at stations, and Madrid's underground network was evacuated. Air traffic was slashed to "half capacity" as flights were cancelled from a number of airports - with Lisbon turning away all arrivals for hours. And a major tennis tournament, the Madrid Open, had to be suspended, with Brit Jacob Fearnley's match interrupted by a huge "bang". Investigators are still determining the cause of the mass blackout. Spain's top court has launched a bombshell probe into whether sabotage was behind the sudden power loss after it is revealed that "unusual activity" hit the UK grid hours before Europe. Forstchen - a leading authority on EMP technology who has given guidance on its potential impact to federal and state governments - warned the Dome would be America's only hope against an EMP attack. An EMP is a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere, that could cause widespread damage to power lines, telecommunications, and electronic equipment. "EMP distorts the grid off and you lose your electricity," he said. "The devastation ultimately would be a hundred times worse because the grid is gone. You can't pump water, get food, all the other things we depend upon." It comes as Trump's Golden Dome hopes gather pace - with his billionaire pal Elon Musk understood to have won the contract to build the incredible missile defence shield. Musk's rocket and satellite company SpaceX is partnering with software maker Palantir and drone builder Anduril to build key parts. 7 Plans include building and launching more than 1,000 satellites circling the globe to sense incoming missiles and track their movement, sources told Reuters. A separate fleet of 200 attack satellites armed with missiles or lasers would then bring enemy missiles down. SpaceX is understood to be pitching for the part of the Golden Dome initiative called the "custody layer". It would work as a constellation of satellites that would detect missiles, track their trajectory, and determine if they are heading toward the US. However, the rocket company is not expected to be involved in the weaponisation of satellites. Overall cost for the Dome could hit hundreds of billions of dollars, experts say. Trump previously warned a missile attack is "the most catastrophic threat facing the United States" - and is in a race to strike a deal with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. 7 Scientists work at a uranium processing site in Isfahan, south of Tehran in Iran Credit: Reuters 7 Satellite images reportedly show a secret missile site in Shahrud, Iran Credit: Google Earth Iran's accelerates nuclear development Exclusive by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) IRAN is believed to have accelerated its nuclear weapons development and is building terrifying nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range exceeding 1,800 miles (3,000km). A powerful blast from Iran could impact on several continents due to the chilling capability of the warheads. Italy, Ukraine, Sudan, India and even large swaths of Russia would all potentially be in the firing line. They are being developed at two sites in Shahrud and Semnan, which were previously pinned as rocket or space satellite launch sites. A third site, Sorkheh Hesar, is also said to be carrying out projects, including research on nuclear power and underground explosions. Nukes are being quickly created under the watchful eye of the regime's nuclear weaponization entity, the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND). Bosses are developing nuclear warheads for the solid-fuel Ghaem-100 missiles, which are equipped with mobile launch platforms at the Shahrud site. Iran's rocket designers have used North Korea's missiles as a guide to develop the Ghaem-100 missile. When the missile was in a very early testing stage in 2011, dozens of missile experts were killed at the Modarres site in Tehran. Personnel vehicles are banned from entering the Shahrud site and are forced to park at a checkpoint before people are transported in. Meanwhile, they are using the liquid fuel missile Simorgh to develop nuclear warheads in Semnan. Iran has staged three successful Ghaem-100 missile launches over the past two years, enhancing the regime's capability to deploy nuclear weapons. The US president vowed "there will be bombing" if Tehran's regime fails to negotiate an agreement. National security adviser Mike Waltz has said that Trump wants the "full dismantlement" of Iran's nuclear programme. He added: "That's enrichment, that is weaponisation, and that is its strategic missile programme." But Iran hopes a deal to limit, but not dismantle, its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Fears of a devastating strike comes as both Iran and North Korea ramp up their nuke schemes. The Sun previously revealed how Iran's tyrannical regime has been secretly building nuclear warheads for missiles that can fire more than 3,000km. Satellite pictures uncovered three sites that Iran's leaders claimed were being used as part of a space initiative. Tehran is building terrifying nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range exceeding 1,800 miles (3,000km). North Korea meanwhile is understood to have around 50 nuclear weapons and sufficient production of fissile material for six to seven nuclear weapons per year. Tyrant Kim Jong-un has continued arms build-up in response to what Pyongyang claims is threats from the US and its allies in the region. Trump is said to be planning to kick off fresh talks with Kim over his alarming nuclear advances. Earlier this month, Kim unveiled North Korea's largest naval destroyer that could house a vertical launchpad capable of firing nuclear missiles. The extent of North Korea's nuclear and missile programme has long been shrouded in mystery - with stations scattered across the hermit kingdom. But The Sun last month revealed how scheming Kim had constructed a new missile base disguised as a private golf course. 7
The Irish Sun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Nuke strike could plunge US into blackout like Spain at ANY minute – weapon Trump needs now to protect 340million people
AMERICA must install a missile defence shield before the country's electrical grid is wiped out in a nuke strike, an expert has warned. Donald Trump has signed an executive order to construct a futuristic "Golden Dome" to banish threats from countries including Iran. 7 An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere Credit: Department of Homeland Security 7 Israel's Iron Dome air defence system intercepts missiles launched from the Gaza Strip Credit: EPA 7 Donald Trump wants to install a Golden Dome to protect the US Credit: AFP But with both Tehran and North Korea rapidly accelerating nuclear development, military historian William R. Forstchen has warned the US needs a defence system sooner rather than later. Trump has long been fascinated by Israel's technological marvel that is While the Iron Dome effectively intercepts short-range missiles and rockets, the Golden Dome would need to shoot down much larger and powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles. Forstchen told The Sun: "Golden dome is designed as a ballistic defense system for intercontinental. Read more world news "It is a strategic defence that would prevent any enemy attack from coming across the Pacific Ocean to hit our facilities with an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) hit, which would wipe out our electrical infrastructure. "The big fear I've always held is that North Korea has the capacity to launch an ICBM with a nuclear warhead on top. "When it's detonated above the continental United States, it sets up something called the Compton effect, which blows out the electrical grid of the United States. "This is a system designed to defend against that." Most read in The Sun But right now, Forstchen warned America will be "screwed" if North Korea or Iran unleashes just three small nuclear on the US - making it more vital than ever that Trump sees through his plan. It could see the US plunged into Trump says Iran deal is 'well on its way' - as regime builds ring of steel around deeply buried nuclear fortresses Forstchen said: "I grew up in the 60s and 70s. It was called mutually assured Destruction. "The big fear back then was the Soviets would launch hundreds of missiles at us. "We would launch at them. Everybody blows up. Nobody wins the game. Well, it's a different paradigm now. "Third world players, in particular North Korea and Iran, if it ever achieves nuclear capability, they just have to launch three small warheads about four times the size of a Hiroshima bomb. "Get it up there 200 miles out. When the weapon blows, it sets up an electrostatic discharge called the Compton effect. "That shorts our grid off. The grid is not going. It doesn't self-repair. It does not come back online. And basically, to put it in common terminology, we're screwed." European power outage by Patrick Harrington, Foreign News Reporter MILLIONS were left without power when blackouts struck Spain, Portugal and parts of southern France on Monday. Spain says it is focusing on "overcoming the worst" and identifying the cause of what was the continent's largest power outage. At the worst point on early Monday afternoon, airports and hospitals shut down and trains screeched to a halt. Footage showed people queuing outside grocery stores and ATMs to stockpile essentials amid fears the mayhem could last for days. Roads in Spain, Portugal and parts of France were left snarled up with traffic as lights and signals went blank - with emergency officers drafted in to tackle the bedlam. Some hospitals cancelled all surgeries for Monday amid fears for patient safety in the region's most severe blackout for years. Spain's train service came to a complete stop, leaving huge crowds stranded at stations, and Madrid's underground network was evacuated. Air traffic was slashed to "half capacity" as flights were cancelled from a number of airports - with Lisbon turning away all arrivals for hours. And a major tennis tournament, the Madrid Open, had to be suspended, with Brit Jacob Fearnley's match interrupted by a huge "bang". Investigators are still determining the cause of the mass blackout. Spain's top court has launche d a bombshell probe into whether sabotage was behind the sudden power loss after it is revealed that "unusual activity" hit the UK grid hours before Europe . Forstchen - a leading authority on EMP technology who has given guidance on its potential impact to federal and state governments - warned the Dome would be America's only hope against an EMP attack. An EMP is a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere, that could cause widespread damage to power lines, telecommunications, and electronic equipment. "EMP distorts the grid off and you lose your electricity," he said. "The devastation ultimately would be a hundred times worse because the grid is gone. You can't pump water, get food, all the other things we depend upon." It comes as Trump's Golden Dome hopes gather pace - with his billionaire pal Elon Musk understood to have won the contract to build the incredible missile defence shield. Musk's rocket and satellite company SpaceX is partnering with software maker Palantir and drone builder Anduril to build key parts. 7 Plans include building and launching more than 1,000 satellites circling the globe to sense incoming missiles and track their movement, sources told Reuters. A separate fleet of 200 attack satellites armed with missiles or lasers would then bring enemy missiles down. SpaceX is understood to be pitching for the part of the Golden Dome initiative called the "custody layer". It would work as a constellation of satellites that would detect missiles, track their trajectory, and determine if they are heading toward the US. However, the rocket company is not expected to be involved in the weaponisation of satellites. Overall cost for the Dome could hit hundreds of billions of dollars, experts say. Trump previously warned a missile attack is "the most catastrophic threat facing the United States" - and is in a race to strike a deal with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. 7 Scientists work at a uranium processing site in Isfahan, south of Tehran in Iran Credit: Reuters 7 Satellite images reportedly show a secret missile site in Shahrud, Iran Credit: Google Earth Iran's accelerates nuclear development Exclusive by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) IRAN is believed to have accelerated its nuclear weapons development and is building terrifying nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range exceeding 1,800 miles (3,000km). A powerful blast from Iran could impact on several continents due to the chilling capability of the warheads. Italy, Ukraine, Sudan, India and even large swaths of Russia would all potentially be in the firing line. They are being developed at two sites in Shahrud and Semnan, which were previously pinned as rocket or space satellite launch sites. A third site, Sorkheh Hesar, is also said to be carrying out projects, including research on nuclear power and underground explosions. Nukes are being quickly created under the watchful eye of the regime's nuclear weaponization entity, the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND). Bosses are developing nuclear warheads for the solid-fuel Ghaem-100 missiles, which are equipped with mobile launch platforms at the Shahrud site. Iran's rocket designers have used North Korea's missiles as a guide to develop the Ghaem-100 missile. When the missile was in a very early testing stage in 2011, dozens of missile experts were killed at the Modarres site in Tehran. Personnel vehicles are banned from entering the Shahrud site and are forced to park at a checkpoint before people are transported in. Meanwhile, they are using the liquid fuel missile Simorgh to develop nuclear warheads in Semnan. Iran has staged three successful Ghaem-100 missile launches over the past two years, enhancing the regime's capability to deploy nuclear weapons. The US president vowed "there will be bombing" if Tehran's regime fails to negotiate an agreement. National security adviser Mike Waltz has said that Trump wants the "full dismantlement" of Iran's nuclear programme. He added: "That's enrichment, that is weaponisation, and that is its strategic missile programme." But Iran hopes a deal to limit, but not dismantle, its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Fears of a devastating strike comes as both Iran and North Korea ramp up their nuke schemes. The Sun previously revealed how Iran's tyrannical regime has been secretly building nuclear warheads for missiles that can fire more than 3,000km. Satellite pictures uncovered three sites that Iran's leaders claimed were being used as part of a space initiative. Tehran is building terrifying nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range exceeding 1,800 miles (3,000km). North Korea meanwhile is understood to have around 50 nuclear weapons and sufficient production of fissile material for six to seven nuclear weapons per year. Tyrant Kim Jong-un has continued arms build-up in response to what Pyongyang claims is threats from the US and its allies in the region. Trump is said to be planning to Earlier this month, Kim unveiled The extent of North Korea's nuclear and missile programme has long been shrouded in mystery - with stations scattered across the hermit kingdom. But The Sun last month revealed how scheming Kim had constructed a 7 The Sun's visit to an Iron Dome battery By Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) THE Sun this month got a rare look at an Iron Dome battery system in southern Israel. Tucked along a track away from prying eyes close to a city of around 33,000, a group of highly trained IDF soldiers work tirelessly to repel missiles fired by Hamas from Gaza. Fenced off from the public, the batteries sit on a concrete base ready to be put into action at the drop of a hat. Firing units are primed and ready to go, with the launchers always pointing towards the sky as incoming threats can come at any moment. An IDF commander walked us through exactly how the remarkable system works and proudly told how they had successfully wiped out around 96 per cent of missiles fired their way. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, this exceptional kit is essential to Israel's defence. During my time in Israel last week, I saw first hand the devastation Hamas caused on October 7. Kibbutz Nir Oz was decimated by callous terrorists and around a quarter of its residents were either brutally killed or taken hostage. Hamas also unleashed a barrage of more than 5,000 missiles against Israeli targets that day in a bid to overwhelm its robust defence system. Since then, the terror group has continued to repeatedly blitz Israel - but thanks to systems like the Iron Dome it has managed to limit casualty numbers
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Nuke strike could plunge US into blackout like Spain at ANY minute – weapon Trump needs now to protect 340million people
AMERICA must install a missile defence shield before the country's electrical grid is wiped out in a nuke strike, an expert has warned. Donald Trump has signed an executive order to construct a futuristic "Golden Dome" to banish threats from countries including Iran. 7 But with both Tehran and North Korea rapidly accelerating nuclear development, military historian William R. Forstchen has warned the US needs a defence system sooner rather than later. Trump has long been fascinated by Israel 's technological marvel that is the Iron Dome and wants to build something much more complex and expensive. While the Iron Dome effectively intercepts short-range missiles and rockets, the Golden Dome would need to shoot down much larger and powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles. Forstchen told The Sun: "Golden dome is designed as a ballistic defense system for intercontinental. "It is a strategic defence that would prevent any enemy attack from coming across the Pacific Ocean to hit our facilities with an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) hit, which would wipe out our electrical infrastructure. "The big fear I've always held is that North Korea has the capacity to launch an ICBM with a nuclear warhead on top. "When it's detonated above the continental United States, it sets up something called the Compton effect, which blows out the electrical grid of the United States. "This is a system designed to defend against that." But right now, Forstchen warned America will be "screwed" if North Korea or Iran unleashes just three small nuclear on the US - making it more vital than ever that Trump sees through his plan. It could see the US plunged into darkness like Spain and Portugal last Monday. Trump says Iran deal is 'well on its way' - as regime builds ring of steel around deeply buried nuclear fortresses Forstchen said: "I grew up in the 60s and 70s. It was called mutually assured Destruction. "The big fear back then was the Soviets would launch hundreds of missiles at us. "We would launch at them. Everybody blows up. Nobody wins the game. Well, it's a different paradigm now. "Third world players, in particular North Korea and Iran, if it ever achieves nuclear capability, they just have to launch three small warheads about four times the size of a Hiroshima bomb. "Get it up there 200 miles out. When the weapon blows, it sets up an electrostatic discharge called the Compton effect. "That shorts our grid off. The grid is not going. It doesn't self-repair. It does not come back online. And basically, to put it in common terminology, we're screwed." European power outage by Patrick Harrington, Foreign News Reporter MILLIONS were left without power when blackouts struck Spain, Portugal and parts of southern France on Monday. Spain says it is focusing on "overcoming the worst" and identifying the cause of what was the continent's largest power outage. At the worst point on early Monday afternoon, airports and hospitals shut down and trains screeched to a halt. Footage showed people queuing outside grocery stores and ATMs to stockpile essentials amid fears the mayhem could last for days. Roads in Spain, Portugal and parts of France were left snarled up with traffic as lights and signals went blank - with emergency officers drafted in to tackle the bedlam. Some hospitals cancelled all surgeries for Monday amid fears for patient safety in the region's most severe blackout for years. Spain's train service came to a complete stop, leaving huge crowds stranded at stations, and Madrid's underground network was evacuated. Air traffic was slashed to "half capacity" as flights were cancelled from a number of airports - with Lisbon turning away all arrivals for hours. And a major tennis tournament, the Madrid Open, had to be suspended, with Brit Jacob Fearnley's match interrupted by a huge "bang". Investigators are still determining the cause of the mass blackout. Spain's top court has launched a bombshell probe into whether sabotage was behind the sudden power loss after it is revealed that "unusual activity" hit the UK grid hours before Europe. Forstchen - a leading authority on EMP technology who has given guidance on its potential impact to federal and state governments - warned the Dome would be America's only hope against an EMP attack. An EMP is a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere, that could cause widespread damage to power lines, telecommunications, and electronic equipment. "EMP distorts the grid off and you lose your electricity," he said. "The devastation ultimately would be a hundred times worse because the grid is gone. You can't pump water, get food, all the other things we depend upon." It comes as Trump's Golden Dome hopes gather pace - with his billionaire pal Elon Musk understood to have won the contract to build the incredible missile defence shield. Musk's rocket and satellite company SpaceX is partnering with software maker Palantir and drone builder Anduril to build key parts. 7 Plans include building and launching more than 1,000 satellites circling the globe to sense incoming missiles and track their movement, sources told Reuters. A separate fleet of 200 attack satellites armed with missiles or lasers would then bring enemy missiles down. SpaceX is understood to be pitching for the part of the Golden Dome initiative called the "custody layer". It would work as a constellation of satellites that would detect missiles, track their trajectory, and determine if they are heading toward the US. However, the rocket company is not expected to be involved in the weaponisation of satellites. Overall cost for the Dome could hit hundreds of billions of dollars, experts say. Trump previously warned a missile attack is "the most catastrophic threat facing the United States" - and is in a race to strike a deal with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. 7 7 Iran's accelerates nuclear development Exclusive by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) IRAN is believed to have accelerated its nuclear weapons development and is building terrifying nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range exceeding 1,800 miles (3,000km). A powerful blast from Iran could impact on several continents due to the chilling capability of the warheads. Italy, Ukraine, Sudan, India and even large swaths of Russia would all potentially be in the firing line. They are being developed at two sites in Shahrud and Semnan, which were previously pinned as rocket or space satellite launch sites. A third site, Sorkheh Hesar, is also said to be carrying out projects, including research on nuclear power and underground explosions. Nukes are being quickly created under the watchful eye of the regime's nuclear weaponization entity, the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND). Bosses are developing nuclear warheads for the solid-fuel Ghaem-100 missiles, which are equipped with mobile launch platforms at the Shahrud site. Iran's rocket designers have used North Korea's missiles as a guide to develop the Ghaem-100 missile. When the missile was in a very early testing stage in 2011, dozens of missile experts were killed at the Modarres site in Tehran. Personnel vehicles are banned from entering the Shahrud site and are forced to park at a checkpoint before people are transported in. Meanwhile, they are using the liquid fuel missile Simorgh to develop nuclear warheads in Semnan. Iran has staged three successful Ghaem-100 missile launches over the past two years, enhancing the regime's capability to deploy nuclear weapons. The US president vowed "there will be bombing" if Tehran's regime fails to negotiate an agreement. National security adviser Mike Waltz has said that Trump wants the "full dismantlement" of Iran's nuclear programme. He added: "That's enrichment, that is weaponisation, and that is its strategic missile programme." But Iran hopes a deal to limit, but not dismantle, its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Fears of a devastating strike comes as both Iran and North Korea ramp up their nuke schemes. The Sun previously revealed how Iran's tyrannical regime has been secretly building nuclear warheads for missiles that can fire more than 3,000km. Satellite pictures uncovered three sites that Iran's leaders claimed were being used as part of a space initiative. Tehran is building terrifying nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range exceeding 1,800 miles (3,000km). North Korea meanwhile is understood to have around 50 nuclear weapons and sufficient production of fissile material for six to seven nuclear weapons per year. Tyrant Kim Jong-un has continued arms build-up in response to what Pyongyang claims is threats from the US and its allies in the region. Trump is said to be planning to kick off fresh talks with Kim over his alarming nuclear advances. Earlier this month, Kim unveiled North Korea's largest naval destroyer that could house a vertical launchpad capable of firing nuclear missiles. The extent of North Korea's nuclear and missile programme has long been shrouded in mystery - with stations scattered across the hermit kingdom. But The Sun last month revealed how scheming Kim had constructed a new missile base disguised as a private golf course. 7 The Sun's visit to an Iron Dome battery By Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) THE Sun this month got a rare look at an Iron Dome battery system in southern Israel. Tucked along a track away from prying eyes close to a city of around 33,000, a group of highly trained IDF soldiers work tirelessly to repel missiles fired by Hamas from Gaza. Fenced off from the public, the batteries sit on a concrete base ready to be put into action at the drop of a hat. Firing units are primed and ready to go, with the launchers always pointing towards the sky as incoming threats can come at any moment. An IDF commander walked us through exactly how the remarkable system works and proudly told how they had successfully wiped out around 96 per cent of missiles fired their way. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, this exceptional kit is essential to Israel's defence. During my time in Israel last week, I saw first hand the devastation Hamas caused on October 7. Kibbutz Nir Oz was decimated by callous terrorists and around a quarter of its residents were either brutally killed or taken hostage. Hamas also unleashed a barrage of more than 5,000 missiles against Israeli targets that day in a bid to overwhelm its robust defence system. Since then, the terror group has continued to repeatedly blitz Israel - but thanks to systems like the Iron Dome it has managed to limit casualty numbers
