Railgun. That is all.
This thing fires a projectile using only electricity and magnetism, no explosions involved. The fire you see is air molecules igniting from the extreme speed and friction of the projectile.
---------- Post added 2013-03-11 at 08:50 PM ----------
If that's real, that is really neat. Could be a huge lifesaver in an emergency situation.
By god I hope we purchase a couple of those. Maybe put it on the Type 26 frigate that will be built by by 2020+. I hope we build more than 13 type 26 frigates, Labour is pretty much guaranteed to be in power then, and I know they're less vicious with the defence budget. After all, they're the ones who ordered the two aircraft carriers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CVS401_Perseus
Dat missile...
Last edited by mmocb5e225659b; 2013-03-11 at 07:59 PM.
I wonder what the power requirements will be. inc thorium (for safety) reactors on destroyers?The first weaponized railgun planned for production, the General Atomics Blitzer system, began full system testing in September 2010. The weapon launches a streamlined discarding sabot round designed by Boeing's Phantom Works at 1600 m/s (approximately Mach 5) with accelerations exceeding 60,000 g's.[20] During one of the tests, the projectile was able to travel an additional 7km (~4 mi) downrange after penetrating a 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick steel plate. The company hopes to have an integrated demo of the system by 2016 followed by production by 2019, pending funding. Thus far, the project is self-funded.[21]
No idea, probably a lot. For the beginning prototypes aircraft carriers will probably be the only ships big and powerful enough to operate such a weapon, and gradually the design will improve for use on smaller ships.
Anyway, this looks cool:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11..._chopper_bids/
Classified, too! Looks like there may actually be secret projects going on.
Sounds a bit gimmicky, but overall it's pretty damn awesome. Notice how in it's helicopter form, from far away it would actually look like a full scale helicopter, if you look at it's outline.
http://en.rian.ru/video/20130310/179812650.html
Russia always has some cool stuff
We were too ahead of our time for this.
It is halfway between the under powered 5.56 most assault rifles nowadays use and the much heavier but over powered 7.62.
6.8 has the punch that 5.56 lacks, but is also light enough in weight that you can carry much more than you can with 7.62. recoil is also a factor, 6.8 is in the middle in this area, making it very controllable.
Surprised this hasn't been mentioned, but the F-35 Lightning II looks pretty flippin sweet. The seamless integration of VTOL and regular flight in one of the variants seems badass. I am thinking of joining the Air Force after I get out of college, and I would love to have one of these babies as my own personal company car.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-35_Lightning_II
"Death is not kind. It's dark, black as far as you can see, and you're all alone."
I think the F-22 could beat a spitfire =].
"Death is not kind. It's dark, black as far as you can see, and you're all alone."
I was a fan of the Crusader self propelled howitzer before it got canceled by Rumsfeld: