DIOMEDE-2

Intelligence Summary: DIOMEDE-2 Project

Node Identity
DIOMEDE-2 (ANR-21-ASM1-0002) is a DGA-funded research project under the ASTRID defense program, developing co-integrated plasma and PIN diode protection devices on planar circuits for electromagnetic hardening of military communication systems. The project represents France's most concrete engagement with plasma technology for electronic warfare defense, exploiting the nonlinear electromagnetic properties of plasma discharges to protect military electronics against EMP and high-power microwave (HPM) threats.

Strategic Relevance
DIOMEDE-2 is strategically significant as a rare example of applied plasma weapons technology in France — not offensive plasma weapons, but defensive plasma-based protection against electromagnetic warfare. The project demonstrates France's recognition that plasma physics has direct military utility beyond nuclear weapons simulation. The technology being developed addresses a critical vulnerability: modern military communication systems are susceptible to EMP from nuclear detonations and adversarial HPM weapons. By developing plasma-based protection that exploits nonlinear saturation effects, DIOMEDE-2 creates a passive, self-activating defense mechanism that requires no external trigger. This positions France within the global plasma defense technology landscape, complementing its offensive ICF capabilities at LMJ and its laser weapons programs (SYDERAL, HELMA-P).

Technical Focus / Capabilities
The DIOMEDE-2 project builds on its predecessor (ANR-15-ASTR-0020), which demonstrated that combining a gaseous plasma protection device with a PIN diode was effective against high-power electromagnetic threats. The current project co-integrates plasma and PIN diode protection on planar circuits, enabling compact, deployable protection modules. The core innovation exploits plasma's nonlinear electromagnetic behavior: when an EMP field exceeds approximately 70 kV/m, the voltage collected by a plasma-based antenna saturates at around 200V rather than continuing to grow linearly with field strength. This saturation effect provides inherent protection without requiring fast-switching electronics. Related research (HAL: hal-05358015) presents analytical modeling of intense EMP interaction with spherical plasma discharges, emphasizing the critical role of energy absorbed by individual electrons. Another paper (HAL: hal-04324380) demonstrates nonlinear EMP effects on plasma-based electrically small VHF antennas.

Network Linkage
DIOMEDE-2 is funded by the ASTRID program (DGA/ANR co-funding). Its EMP hardening technology directly supports DGA Maîtrise NRBC's nuclear weapons effects management mission. The plasma physics research underlying DIOMEDE-2, while defensive in orientation, draws on the same plasma-electromagnetic interaction physics studied at CEA/DAM facilities, creating a knowledge link between offensive and defensive plasma applications within the French nuclear weapons ecosystem.