NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w-ql8msl0U&feature=related

North Korea and Iran can eat heated plasma, or at least any missiles they launch will if this weapon becomes used throughout the US air force.

Don't you all feel less afraid of a WMD holocaust now?

No. They can probably make some sort of cheap shielding or reflective surface to block the laser. Plus, how maneuverable are Boeings?

No. They can probably make some sort of cheap shielding or reflective surface to block the laser. Plus, how maneuverable are Boeings?

That was just to test it, they can put it on a more able aircraft when the need arises.

It's all still very speculative and theoretical, by the time they get the technology working, there will probably already be ways around it. Hell, there are fairly easy ways to deal with it now. This thing requires low powered lasers as sensors. Just build in reciprocal sensors on the skin of the missle that reads when it's being scanned and releases a tightly bundled package of tin foil.

That was just to test it, they can put it on a more able aircraft when the need arises.

Can't be easy to aim at a fast moving object like a missile when flying in a fighter plane.

That was just to test it, they can put it on a more able aircraft when the need arises.

The laser is a chemical oxygen iodine laser. That means it needs to carry a large amount of chemicals for the wattage required to power the laser. More maneuverable aircraft with that payload capacity don't exist.

Also, the laser is not meant for use against ICBMs, but slower moving tactical missiles. Note the limitations of engagement ranges if used against ICBMs. 8-12 seconds, within 300km for solid fuel, or 600km for liquid fuel. And only during the boost phase. Hardly useful against a surprise attack.

Just build in reciprocal sensors on the skin of the missle that reads when it's being scanned and releases a tightly bundled package of tin foil.

Or you can put in your own tracking lasers, and blind theirs.

Or you can put in your own tracking lasers, and blind theirs.

Or we could make love, not war.

Uhm...

yea.

Can't be easy to aim at a fast moving object like a missile when flying in a fighter plane.

I was thinking of a plane more along the lines of a blackbird stealth bomber.

Also the laser could be used to intercept planes as well, just target the enemy aircrafts fuel tank or fuel line and then BOOM! :mp5:

Also the laser could be used to intercept planes as well, just target the enemy aircrafts fuel tank or fuel line and then BOOM! :mp5:

Not hardly, those lasers are not powerful enough to cut through an airline hull. And its targeting methods would be totally worthless on any sort of stealth system.

It's all still very speculative and theoretical, by the time they get the technology working, there will probably already be ways around it. Hell, there are fairly easy ways to deal with it now. This thing requires low powered lasers as sensors. Just build in reciprocal sensors on the skin of the missle that reads when it's being scanned and releases a tightly bundled package of tin foil.

If Tin Foil didn't fool the Police Radar (Thank you MythBusters) why would it work on this?

If Tin Foil didn't fool the Police Radar (Thank you MythBusters) why would it work on this?

Because we aren't dealing with the police here, these are highly trained government operatives with advanced flashlight technology.

Because we aren't dealing with the police here, these are highly trained government operatives with advanced flashlight technology.

I really wish I'd be in the laser room when they try the tin foil and it fails miserably.

As long as we're talking about lasers....

http://wiki.urbandead.com/images/thumb/3/3a/Mahlazer.jpg/200px-Mahlazer.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/108/267127978_7ce99a3425_m.jpg

If Tin Foil didn't fool the Police Radar (Thank you MythBusters) why would it work on this?

because this isn't radar, but tracking lasers, which are very different things.

because this isn't radar, but tracking lasers, which are very different things.

Couldn't they just wait until after they deployed the tin foil though, or at least fire it again?

Couldn't they just wait until after they deployed the tin foil though, or at least fire it again?

The whole point of these things is to screw up sensor readings, which is not THAT hard to do.

I really wish I'd be in the laser room when they try the tin foil and it fails miserably.

As long as we're talking about lasers....

http://wiki.urbandead.com/images/thumb/3/3a/Mahlazer.jpg/200px-Mahlazer.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/108/267127978_7ce99a3425_m.jpg

Leonidas firin his lazer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8glM0R2Soc)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w-ql8msl0U&feature=related

North Korea and Iran can eat heated plasma, or at least any missiles they launch will if this weapon becomes used throughout the US air force.

Don't you all feel less afraid of a WMD holocaust now?

Not particularly to feel any better I would have to see some real life statistics about the actual effectiveness not just gawking.

Not to mention the effect of other countries getting nervous about MAD not applying.

That was just to test it, they can put it on a more able aircraft when the need arises.

Looks rather bulky ... what "More able" aircraft would be able to handle it?

One would think there is a reason they chose the platform they did

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w-ql8msl0U&feature=related

North Korea and Iran can eat heated plasma, or at least any missiles they launch will if this weapon becomes used throughout the US air force.

Don't you all feel less afraid of a WMD holocaust now?

No.
One-up-manship has never made me feel safer about anything or anyone.

Don't you all feel less afraid of a WMD holocaust now?I don't live within range of either North Korean or Iranian missiles.

Problem: Laser focusses on one point of the missle. Casing melts/cracks. Laser heats fuel. Missle asplodes.

Solution: Spinning missles. If the laser can't stay aimed at the same point it can't melt/crack the casing and thus is useless.


Ripped off from someone else saying something like this in a thread about tank mounted anti-RPG lasers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w-ql8msl0U&feature=related

North Korea and Iran can eat heated plasma, or at least any missiles they launch will if this weapon becomes used throughout the US air force.

Don't you all feel less afraid of a WMD holocaust now?

Has this been used on the ground? At first glance this seems to be crap. Elections are approaching.

If this works, wont it just remove USA's main deterrent against using them missiles?

Has this been used on the ground? At first glance this seems to be crap. Elections are approaching.

There was a thread way back about tank mounted anti-RPG lasers, though I can't remember if it was an actual Army idea, or the OP's idea, or if it had ever actually been done in some way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w-ql8msl0U&feature=related

North Korea and Iran can eat heated plasma, or at least any missiles they launch will if this weapon becomes used throughout the US air force.

Don't you all feel less afraid of a WMD holocaust now?

Finally, lasers!! 400 billion USDollars, US army should have made more cool stuff by now!!

This is really dumb. Should work almost as well as Patriot missiles.

Finally, lasers!! 400 billion USDollars, US army should have made more cool stuff by now!!

Pffft, they couldn't finish the gay bomb, what hope have we for lazorz?

Don't you all feel less afraid of a WMD holocaust now?

Wait, you're honestly worried about a WMD holocaust?

Pffft, they couldn't finish the gay bomb, what hope have we for lazorz?
ORLY? Then what caused the gay explosion?

ORLY? Then what caused the gay explosion?

Solar gaydiation

Solar gaydiation

:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w-ql8msl0U&feature=related

North Korea and Iran can eat heated plasma, or at least any missiles they launch will if this weapon becomes used throughout the US air force.

Don't you all feel less afraid of a WMD holocaust now?No because the country most likely to start 1 is America. They're just eliminating competition even more.

It's all still very speculative and theoretical, by the time they get the technology working, there will probably already be ways around it. Hell, there are fairly easy ways to deal with it now. This thing requires low powered lasers as sensors. Just build in reciprocal sensors on the skin of the missle that reads when it's being scanned and releases a tightly bundled package of tin foil.

On the first point: not exactly. Actually the RADAR guns used by cops are steadily being replaced in many areas with LIDAR (think Laser Radar) systems because of the very fact that the way LIDAR systems work, by the time you detect you're being targeted by the outgoing LIDAR pulse, it's already too late. Whoever fired it as figured out your position.

Edit: Please note that while the detection is very useful, therefore, the actual elimination through use of a higher-powered laser is a little more iffy, largely because of the amount of time involved in firing the laser and then heating up the object with a controlled beam long enough for it to overheat and explode.

There was a thread way back about tank mounted anti-RPG lasers, though I can't remember if it was an actual Army idea, or the OP's idea, or if it had ever actually been done in some way.

In Command and Conquer Generals the US Paladin tanks have those. They also shoot infantry who get too close.

There was a thread way back about tank mounted anti-RPG lasers, though I can't remember if it was an actual Army idea, or the OP's idea, or if it had ever actually been done in some way.

I think it was originally Israeli, but the US army is picking up on it.

In Command and Conquer Generals the US Paladin tanks have those. They also shoot infantry who get too close.Yeah, but the US loses that war, so that's no reason to feel safe.

Yeah, but the US loses that war, so that's no reason to feel safe.

Quick, to the space station!

. . .

What do you MEAN they blew it up?

Problem: Laser focusses on one point of the missle. Casing melts/cracks. Laser heats fuel. Missle asplodes.

Solution: Spinning missles. If the laser can't stay aimed at the same point it can't melt/crack the casing and thus is useless.


Ripped off from someone else saying something like this in a thread about tank mounted anti-RPG lasers.

Depends on how much power the laser is packing. If it's strong enough (which I don't know about), the spinning missile will work about as well as a ballerina doing a pirouette in front of a shotgun. (Kudos to anyone who gets the reference)

Yeah, but the US loses that war, so that's no reason to feel safe.

What was the main reason the US lost that war again?

Don't you all feel less afraid of a WMD holocaust now?
No, not really.

Persian or North Korean missiles have a range of about 23 feet, and are within US / Israeli defence missile thingummies already (tired, sorry :().

For a WMD holocaust, it'd either be a Russian missile attack of an absolutely OhShit scale you're looking for, which the very few AWACs plains could do little against, esp. seeing as this would be an act of an all out war, where the Russians would probably shoot said planes down sharpish.

In Command and Conquer Generals the US Paladin tanks have those. They also shoot infantry who get too close.
On the other hand, Red Alert 2 features mind-controlled squid on the Russian side, and time-travelling warriors for the Allies.

Not really sure that your argument holds any water ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w-ql8msl0U&feature=related

North Korea and Iran can eat heated plasma, or at least any missiles they launch will if this weapon becomes used throughout the US air force.

Don't you all feel less afraid of a WMD holocaust now?

No, I never felt threatened by hot air and nonexistant threats. *sigh*

Cool though. Seriously, neither of those pose a threat to us or Israel. Iran would be blown off the planet if they messed with Israel, let alone us.

What was the main reason the US lost that war again?Because I sank the Ronald Reagan by stealing the particle beam cannon.

Well if you watch all the future weapons things,they're pretty cool. 2nd its not a real laser more like a food warming light a million fold. 3 when it blows up won't nuclear fallout,etc. fall down to earth?

Well if you watch all the future weapons things,they're pretty cool. 2nd its not a real laser more like a food warming light a million fold. 3 when it blows up won't nuclear fallout,etc. fall down to earth?

why would there be fallout? Blowing up a nuclear warhead won't cause a nuclear explosion.

It WILL cause the radioactive material to fall down (not the same as fallout), but compared to a nuclear explosion, that's not so bad.

Solar gaydiation

Well the Sun sure is a flamer...

Well if you watch all the future weapons things,they're pretty cool. 2nd its not a real laser more like a food warming light a million fold. 3 when it blows up won't nuclear fallout,etc. fall down to earth?

Some special mechanism has to compress the nuclear material in a certain way for a nuclear explosion to occur, if the missile is just plain blown up in a way that the nuclear device isn't activated no nuclear fallout will transpire.

why would there be fallout? Blowing up a nuclear warhead won't cause a nuclear explosion.

It WILL cause the radioactive material to fall down (not the same as fallout), but compared to a nuclear explosion, that's not so bad.
How much contamination would the nuclear material cause? Furthermore, how easy would it be to remove from the area?

How much contamination would the nuclear material cause? Furthermore, how easy would it be to remove from the area?

depend on how much of it is blown into pieces and how hard it falls. Frankly I have no idea how much fissionable material is used in a warhead. Few pounds maybe?

depend on how much of it is blown into pieces and how hard it falls. Frankly I have no idea how much fissionable material is used in a warhead. Few pounds maybe?
So basically we're talking contamination of, at most, a small house and...low-level, say...one hundred fifty rads?

Sounds like that's not only far more acceptable than a nuclear explosion, it's barely a problem at all!

depend on how much of it is blown into pieces and how hard it falls. Frankly I have no idea how much fissionable material is used in a warhead. Few pounds maybe?

Critical mass for uranium is like 130 pounds. Plutonium is around 20 or so. A good bit more than a few pounds.

I also did wonder about the fallout and such. It would probably be significant. I doubt this weapon will ever need to be used against a nuclear warhead though.

Critical mass for uranium is like 130 pounds. Plutonium is around 20 or so. A good bit more than a few pounds.

I also did wonder about the fallout and such. It would probably be significant. I doubt this weapon will ever need to be used against a nuclear warhead though.

I would define 20 as "a few pounds". Certainly enough to make a mess of things, but far far less then a nuclear weapon.

Well if you watch all the future weapons things,they're pretty cool. 2nd its not a real laser more like a food warming light a million fold. 3 when it blows up won't nuclear fallout,etc. fall down to earth?

Nuclear fallout only happens when there is a nuclear exposion. The missile's fuel exploding and destroying the missile has almost no chance of setting off the actual nuke, and thus no fallout. There might be a little uranium falling, but its far less deadly than an explosion or fallout.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=C1gjHnOfDrE

Well this is old news. And no, you cannot reflect a laser if it is strong enough. Once a reflective surface is even slightly burned it loses its immunity to light-based weapons.

Also, you don't need much Plutonium to make a nuclear weapon, it's usually best to start with at least 5 kg of 99.99% pure Pu-239 and you don't have to worry about accidental explosions because it takes a hell of a lot of supercriticality to make it blow up.

Well this is old news. And no, you cannot reflect a laser if it is strong enough. Once a reflective surface is even slightly burned it loses its immunity to light-based weapons.

We're not talking about reflecting the main beam, but rather the tracking lasers which are low energy.

We're not talking about reflecting the main beam, but rather the tracking lasers which are low energy.

Okay, this is probably a rather moronic question, but why does it need tracking lasers? Can't it just use RADAR or something?