HI-TECH BATTLE GEAR WILL BE A REAL BLAST

New York Post ^ | 1/07/03 | Scripps-Howard

[kattracks]

January 7, 2003 -- Planes small enough to fit into a Marine's backpack and energy-pulse guns that stun an enemy soldier without hurting him are among the amazing new weapons that could debut in a war against Iraq.

Wielded by unmanned robot planes or long-distance cruise missiles, these weapons would be capable of attacking 100 targets with 1,000 pulses of destructive energy in a single sortie - without hurting humans or damaging buildings.

[nimdoc]

I have seen several references to this “directed energy” weapon in the press, but no details.
What is it ?
How does it work?

[Cvengr]

By directing energy differences in controlled directions producing other effects which are used as a weapon to shear targeted surfaces.

I suspect Iraq is about to have their butts handed to them by weapons which are revolutions in warfare. We probably won't hear about them, rather advanced conventional armament will also be deployed and those battles reported.

I suspect Iraq has not only 'under-/mis-calculated', but that the additional time afforded the US military to prepare for battle, is concentrated at more senior and advanced levels of military power strategically.

On the other hand, it might simply be a bluff of what you see is what you get,...War by WYSIWYG seems to be the point of equilibrium.

[happygrl]

What is it ?

How does it work?

Think Stun Gun from Star Trek.

Seriously.

[Savage Beast]

Those who support terrorism had better hope that American forbearance does not wear too thin.

To paraphrase GWB: We're a loving people, but we have a job to do.

[biggerten]

Go to www.airbornelaser.com. Check the Schedule page.

The 747 underwent flight testing last summer, and was flown to California to be integrated with the laser and further testing.

Now, the schedule page is 'being revised'.

I hope the thing will be tested on Scuds instead of old American ICBMs.

[ClearCase_guy]

Our military is so powerful, so awesome, so far ahead of any conceivable enemy, that it must be clear to anyone on the planet that they cannot fight us. Given that understanding, I think it highly likely that our enemies would use weapons like smallpox or dirty nuclear devices. What else can they do?

In no way do I wish to say that such use would be justified. Quite the contrary, I think it provides a rationale for the US to do exactly what it is doing -- regime change in Iraq, Iran and North Korea. These countries are like cornered dogs with few options. That makes them very dangerous and they must be tamed.

[Bottom_Gun]

if you want to see more about this, and other weapons of the future Popular mechanics has put out a softcover about the military, and weapons of the future. What I found interesting, is the navy developing a "hypersonic Torpedo" that can travel 20 Kyds in seconds..a far cry from my experences with the MK 48 that takes minutes to get there *L*

[oyez]

Where does he get all those toys? -- The Joker

bfl

[tet68]

Look up "Loki+DARPA" Loki is manned submersable compareable to a modern fighter aircraft.
They are spending a PILE on R&D.

Vortex generators!

[Centurion2000]

bump

[fourdeuce82d]

Popular mechanics has put out a softcover about the military, and weapons of the future

I bought it for a friend who's writing a screenplay involving military technology. Piece of crap. Whoever wrote the text was clueless.

[katana]

I bought that book (more like a thick magazine) and keep it at my desk. I also noticed that we have been testing a supersonic (covers 15 km in ten seconds)supercavitating torpedo (photo was included). The Russian "Shkval" which may have caused the sinking of the Kursk supposedly has a top speed of 200 knots.

[the_doc]

A torpedo covering 15 km in ten seconds?

[July 4th]

Sounds like a horizontally-mounted Trident missile!...

[Bottom_Gun]

That is probally the one that I was thinking of, I couldn't read the article too well, because I was fending off the register candy Isle, from my 18 month daughter while I was trying to flip through it *L*

[Bottom_Gun]

A torpedo covering 15 km in ten seconds?

yea...through supercavation, it basicaly encapsulates itself in an air bubble, causing it to move at ratical high speeds. It becomes an underwater missle, and the big concern in the fleet is because of that air bubble, the weapon is hard to detect on sonar, not having the "Classic" audio cues of a regular torpedo moving through the water. At that speed, by the time you hear it, it's too late to do anything about it.

[Fresh Wind]

bump

[Centurion2000]

bump

[Tailback]

The heart of the teams is the Stryker troop vehicle, the Army's vision for combining the might of its armored tanks with the agility of a lighter infantry troop carrier. Filled with state-of-the-art equipment, the mini-tank Stryker can cruise at 60 mph and can be dropped into a war zone, ready on landing to fight.

Unfortunately this part of the article unbelievable. The Stryker vehicle doesn't even meet it's own program requirements for delivery by C-130 and it was never designed to be air-droppable (parachuted) unlike the M-8 Armored Gun System which was canceled by Clinton.

http://www.geocities.com/lavdanger/armytransformedbytracks.htm