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Real LASER weapon in action

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Sider:
You try and get the squaddie to deliver the thinners to a target moving at 5+ times the speed of sound, and on top of that, put a match to it.

Problem with stopping a missile is hitting it, not the amount of energy needed. Wether you are using conventional ordinance (AAA) or missile (SAM), you have to match trajectories, and make 2 objects travelling at staggering speeds meet in what is really a very small area in space. You are playing with 4 dimensional vectors, and the computing capacity needed is unbelievably high.

Just think of the billions spent in developing Patriot, and how unsuccesful it was the first few times they deployed it. Difference is, Patriot was designed to target short and medium range missiles. Speeds are much lower, yet they still struggle.

The beauty of using laser is that you have very little delay between firing and impact (ordinance and missiles travel at supersonic speeds, Laser travels at light speed).

I could write a 200 page essay with lots of equations and examples to justify it, but beleive me, as long as there are ICBMs and MIRVs out there, it is well worth investing in projects like this one. And in the long term, it will make it much cheaper to actually make use of it than using AAA or SAMs.

Suvvey:
Any one remember 'humour'? :roll:

Sider:
Sorry, I didn't intend to sound that serious. It's just that anti-missile defence is an issue about which I'm quite passionate. Anything that could reduce the chances of nuclear war get's my vote, even if it's not perfect.

V8MoneyPit:

--- Quote from: Sider on October 09, 2009, 13:30:40 ---You try and get the squaddie to deliver the thinners to a target moving at 5+ times the speed of sound, and on top of that, put a match to it.
--- End quote ---

Nah, you need a Marine to do that (in a strong southern USA accent)  :lol:

Suvvey:
Ah but a Yank wouldn't do it without Air cover, Artillery, several tanks, HMG's and a few cases of 5.56 for himself :roll:

A Brit squaddie would be chuffed if he got a match to go with the thinners :twisted:

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