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The Jet Fighter Laser Cannon

fahrbot-bot sends in a Register piece about DARPA issuing the penultimate contract for what is intended to be a jet-mounted laser cannon. The Reg outdoes itself in a BOTEC involving downsizing to shark scale. "The US military will shortly issue a brace of contracts for 'refrigerator sized' laser blaster cannons. One of the deals will see a full-power ground prototype built which will be the final stage prior to America's first raygun-equipped jet fighter. ... If it scales down far enough, this would seem to put handheld HELL-guns within an order of magnitude of the striking power offered by conventional small-arms. A 9mm pistol bullet has about 750 joules muzzle energy: a 5kg portable HELL-ray weapon would put out this much energy in a blast less than a second long. ... A dolphin can carry a human being weighing up to 100kg along for a ride. A thoroughbred shark in good training can surely match this. Thus, we seem to be looking at practicable head-[laser] output in the 20-kilowatt range."

3 of 464 comments (clear)

  1. Re:9mm? by HEbGb · · Score: 0, Troll

    I always considered the people who religiously adhere to .45 over 9mm, despite its negligible, if any, benefit, to really be compensating for a lack of genitalular fortitude.

  2. Re:9mm? by Hognoxious · · Score: 0, Troll

    Perhaps you should read HEbGb (6544)'s post. You know, the one you're replying to...

    Ask your mom to explain the long words.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. Re:9mm? by GooberToo · · Score: 0, Troll

    no stopping power.

    He is misinformed, likely parroting the same misinformation he was told.

    "Stopping power" is a proven myth. It doesn't exist. Period.