In critical situations, communication counts. That’s especially true in defensive applications, where all elements, from individual tactical headsets to complex military communications systems, make a difference in field support and operations.
With this it mind, the U.S. military’s recent decision to revive an almost defunct mountain bunker as a new home for modern defense communication equipment may be somewhat telling as to new defensive priorities. Does the bunker restoration mean we’re preparing for a new era in an old conflict or something else entirely?
The Cheyenne Mountain Complex Gets Repurposed
Located in Colorado Springs, the Cheyenne Mountain Complex was originally designed to shelter and protect military command from nuclear bombing. A relic of the Cold-War, the bunker once housed the North American Aerospace Defense Command control room, which is now found at Peterson Air Force Base.
Up until recently the Cheyenne Mountain Complex was mostly abandoned, but last week U.S. Northern Command and NORAD commander William Gortney announced that the fifteen-building bunker would be used to shelter new military communication equipment.
What Are EMPs And How Could They Become A Threat?
While the conventional threat of nuclear war is relatively less of a likelihood than it was in the mid-twentieth century, there are very real and severe weapons that threaten vital elements of our defense. Reutilizing the Cheyenne Mountain Complex is part of a new effort to protect our essential systems from electromagnetic pulses, also known as EMPs or transient electromagnetic disturbances. EMPs can result from lightning, solar flares, atmospheric disturbances, and other natural and unintentional occurrences, but they can also be set off as a military offense.
Preparing For A Modern Doomsday Scenario
An EMP attack against an unprotected area could result in widespread and total destruction of all electronics, and essentially cripple the majority of modern society in a manner of months. The most disconcerting notion in examining the potential of an EMP offensive is in learning that the United States is currently not prepared to defend against or recover from such an attack.
EMP warfare, like cyber warfare, plays into new vulnerabilities that come with advances in technology. This threat is currently one of the greatest to national security and could become the center of a new doomsday scenario.
The Best Bunker For The Job?
So how is moving communication equipment to a decades-old mountain bunker a step towards better EMP defenses? Reportedly, the structure of the Cheyenee Mountain Complex itself makes it “EMP-hardened”. What better starting point for building a defense infrastructure that could standup to such a major threat?
In Need Of A Few Modern Updates
While established, the complex itself is not yet move-in ready for its new purpose. According to Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station commander, Col. Travis Harsha, the complex’s marketplace needs a significant update to serve personnel with healthier and better food options, as many missions within the complex will require a 24/7 presence.
Were you familiar with the Cheyenne Mountain Complex? Do you think it’s a smart place to start building our defenses against EMP warfare and other threats?
Article Sources:
http://www.theblaze.com
http://sputniknews.com
http://www.hngn.com
http://www.theblaze.com
http://commons.wikimedia.org
Underground bunkers are a fascinating subject, but they’re more common than people think. Some occupants are vague about their bunker’s whereabouts. Some bunkers have even been in use during the First and Second World War; some can also be accessed from a defunct stone quarry. The most recent owner of one bunker I read about reportedly used the subterranean tunnels for commercial mushroom growing, but moved out during the 1970s.