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electromagnetic pulse

Securing the Signal: Mitigation Strategies to Strengthen Crisis Communication Channels

Report

Securing the Signal: Mitigation Strategies to Strengthen Crisis Communication Channels

As global norms are challenged and emerging technologies accelerate, crisis communication systems between nuclear-armed states face urgent new threats. This report identifies four critical scenarios and outlines a matched set of mitigation strategies designed to reinforce the reliability of crisis communications in high-stakes environments.
CATALINK, cold war, crisis communications, electromagnetic pulse, EMP, escalation, miscalculation, nuclear
May 28, 2025
Effects of Electromagnetic Pulses on Communication Infrastructure: An IST Primer

Primer

Effects of Electromagnetic Pulses on Communication Infrastructure: An IST Primer

It is important to acknowledge that the blast effects of a nuclear detonation are horrific and, in such a scenario, it is right that emergency response (including communications) go first to support those people who are affected. IST’s Innovation and Catastrophic Risk team is focused on one aspect of crisis prevention and, in the worst case, response: the international prevention and de-escalation of catastrophic nuclear risk through additive communications solutions.
electromagnetic pulse, nuclear crisis communications, nuclear risk reduction
January 16, 2024
Communication Disruption Attacks on NC3

Report

Communication Disruption Attacks on NC3

In an essay out of the workshop "Last Chance: Communicating at the Nuclear Brink," Paul Bracken argues, "in a nuclear world we should be careful about attacking enemy communications because doing so leads to greater risks of uncontrolled escalation. The worst possible situation is the one the United States is now in, that is, to not be clear in our own minds about what we are doing when it comes to disrupting communications.”
CATALINK, communication, communication attacks, electromagnetic pulse, electronic warfare, escalation, military, NC3, nuclear, red line, retaliation, strike, target, targeting, United States, vulnerability
May 28, 2020
Counter Nuclear Command, Control and Communications

Report

Counter Nuclear Command, Control and Communications

This report by Carol Ann Jones seeks to introduce the nuclear command, control, and stability framework; collect open source NC3 system information on the eight declared nuclear nations to fill in the framework; describe counter NC3 activities; and introduce a few alternate NC3 approaches that may contribute to nuclear stability.
anti-satellite, bias, C3, command and control, communication, complexity, electromagnetic pulse, launch authority, modernization, NC3, Nuclear Posture Review, special operation, stability, strike, supply chain, threshold, vulnerability, warhead, warning
November 7, 2019
AI and the Military: Forever Altering Strategic Stability

AAR, Report

AI and the Military: Forever Altering Strategic Stability

IST and the Center for Global Security Research in 2018 convened workshops to explore the role of AI in 21st century security context. Should we be concerned about an “AI arms race”? What are the risks of unintended consequences and strategic surprise driven by AI?
arms race, artificial intelligence, drone, electromagnetic pulse, machine learning, national security, strategic stability
February 13, 2019