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Author Topic: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran  (Read 5859 times)

Dutchling

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #45 on: January 14, 2014, 02:04:50 pm »

Sounds like a really expensive way of killing people.
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MonkeyHead

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #46 on: January 14, 2014, 02:09:15 pm »

Sounds like the US military, then. :P

Loud Whispers

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #47 on: January 14, 2014, 02:19:53 pm »

Sounds like a really expensive way of killing people.
Perhaps the plasma is meant for more than people? Expensive targets warrant expensive firepower... Now you're thinking with plasma.

My Name is Immaterial

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #48 on: January 14, 2014, 02:36:51 pm »

So shouldn't X-Com should start with plasma weapons?

MetalSlimeHunt

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #49 on: January 14, 2014, 03:09:57 pm »

Truth be told, there's only one serious problem that keeps us from employing plasma weapons: you need a projected magnetic field to make it not immediately disperse and likely kill the user instead of the target. Producing the actual plasma isn't very hard.
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Loud Whispers

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #50 on: January 14, 2014, 03:17:28 pm »

Truth be told, there's only one serious problem that keeps us from employing plasma weapons: you need a projected magnetic field to make it not immediately disperse and likely kill the user instead of the target. Producing the actual plasma isn't very hard.
The objective appears to be the firing of 1 meter diameter toroids of magnetically contained plasma.

MetalSlimeHunt

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #51 on: January 14, 2014, 03:24:37 pm »

Yes, I know. That's why I mentioned it. It would be strange for them to research any other issue. The real question is, of course, how well they managed to do. Range for plasma weapons is much worse than for kinetic ones, how far you can extend the field is exactly how far you are able to shoot.
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Quote from: Thomas Paine
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Sensei

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #52 on: January 14, 2014, 03:31:15 pm »

Yes, I know. That's why I mentioned it. It would be strange for them to research any other issue. The real question is, of course, how well they managed to do. Range for plasma weapons is much worse than for kinetic ones, how far you can extend the field is exactly how far you are able to shoot.
Could one project a magnetic field as far as one could project a magnet? Could one also not project a magnet out of a cannon?

Granted, that's pretty redundant unless you're really sure your projectile needs some added plasma-derived oomph.
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MetalSlimeHunt

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #53 on: January 14, 2014, 03:35:53 pm »

I suppose you could, but then you're destroying both a plasma generator and an electromagnet strong enough to contain it with every usage. You might as well just use a conventional explosive.
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Quote from: Thomas Paine
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MonkeyHead

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #54 on: January 14, 2014, 04:13:06 pm »

... aaaaand if you are firing a chunk of expensive engineered ferrous material to contain some plasma, you might as well just fire a cheap chunk of crude-ish ferrous material on its own.

Loud Whispers

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #55 on: January 14, 2014, 04:46:50 pm »

...Unless it's cheaper than an expensive chunk of engineered rocket.

Depends really, since you know, top sekrit.

MetalSlimeHunt

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #56 on: January 14, 2014, 04:48:37 pm »

Generally, classified +10 Black Tech is not cheaper than things that are already widely used.
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Quote from: Thomas Paine
To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture.
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Loud Whispers

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #57 on: January 14, 2014, 05:01:28 pm »

Generally, classified +10 Black Tech is not cheaper than things that are already widely used.
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LeoLeonardoIII

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Re: U.S Navy plans to deploy laser off coast of Iran
« Reply #58 on: January 14, 2014, 07:47:38 pm »

I figure we're gonna see attacks by a drone carrier that drops autonomous mini-drones with explosive payloads. Literally fly a bomb through every chimney and window in a city block. Then the drone carrier returns automatically. If captured it self-destructs.

I also predict we're gonna see the US begin overtly using an explosive or incendiary chemical weapon and argue that it doesn't count as a war crime because it's just the propellent for the weapon. If it gets all over the target it's not their fault. If you ban any weapon that contains chemicals, you are banning every object. At minimum you're banning guns.

Finally I predict you'll see some alternative to land mines that still creates a no-man's-land, such as automated armored turrets, laser-pointer drones on overwatch that paint targets for laser-guided mini-missiles, and plastic foam sprayed over an area that hardens into a barrier that gums up wheels and bogs down infantry.

As for policy, what the US has going on is unsustainable. Either the US will become ruthless, which will result in its de jure hegemony or its destruction in WW3, or the US will become unable to maintain military bases and adventures because there will be no visible progress to make it worthwhile.
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