An important event in the history of geekdom has come to pass

[TimtheEnchanter]

We have entered the ray-gun age.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmoldX1wKYQ

[eabrace]

Same basic system they tried out in the C-130 a while back, but there are far less power concerns mounted on a ship.

One step closer to mounting lasers on sharks.

[dwturducken]

They need to put it on carriers. They have the capacity to generate significantly more power!

[TimtheEnchanter]

Same basic system they tried out in the C-130 a while back, but there are far less power concerns mounted on a ship.

One step closer to mounting lasers on sharks.

I vaguely remember them experimenting with it, but I was under the assumption that they weren't really able to get it to work.

They need to put it on carriers. They have the capacity to generate significantly more power!

I want to see them on tanks as an anti-personnel weapon. Not that I'm getting a Martian's itchy-trigger finger, but it would sure put a dampener on any army that thinks they can win a conflict just by having superior numbers. Sort of like the artillery Gatling guns when they were first developed.

[eabrace]

I want to see them on tanks as an anti-personnel weapon. Not that I'm getting a Martian's itchy-trigger finger, but it would sure put a dampener on any army that thinks they can win a conflict just by having superior numbers. Sort of like the artillery Gatling guns when they were first developed.

That's what the Active Denial System was designed for.

[Kistulot]

While the technology of lasers being around like this is neat, unless we get phasers set to stun I admit this is bittersweet.

I DESIGNED THE GIANT DEATH RAY TO AID HUMANITY, NOT DESTROY IT!

edit: incase anyone hasn't seen it . . . I realized I didn't link this!

Death Ray from Mitchell and Webb

[FlyingCarcass]

I'm disappointed by the lack of pew pew or bright colors. What's the point of developing a death ray if it doesn't pew pew or have bright colors? Ah well, at least enemy combatants can now say, "Book it, here comes the LaWS" or "I fought the LaWS and the LaWS won".

[TimtheEnchanter]

I'm disappointed by the lack of pew pew or bright colors. What's the point of developing a death ray if it doesn't pew pew or have bright colors? Ah well, at least enemy combatants can now say, "Book it, here comes the LaWS" or "I fought the LaWS and the LaWS won".

I want to know exactly what the drone was seeing. Was that only infrared light or is it a beam that becomes somewhat visible when you're more or less looking down the beam (like a laser pointer)?

We may get something like what you're talking about someday. We need to develop a laser that is hot enough to ionize the air. This is what makes lightning visible and causes thunder. Well... that and Thor.

[Triplash]

I'm disappointed by the lack of pew pew or bright colors. What's the point of developing a death ray if it doesn't pew pew or have bright colors?

Exactly. It's not enough to just have a laser gun. You have to let people know you have a laser gun.

Ah well, at least enemy combatants can now say, "Book it, here comes the LaWS" or "I fought the LaWS and the LaWS won".

And whoever fires it will be all like "I AM the LaWS".

[TimtheEnchanter]

Oh yeah, speaking of lightning... there's this. Laser-guided electrical arcs. http://www.army.mil/article/82262/Picatinny_engineers_set_phasers_to__fry_/

[Ice Trix]

Neat :D

I vaguely remember them experimenting with it, but I was under the assumption that they weren't really able to get it to work.

I want to see them on tanks as an anti-personnel weapon. Not that I'm getting a Martian's itchy-trigger finger, but it would sure put a dampener on any army that thinks they can win a conflict just by having superior numbers. Sort of like the artillery Gatling guns when they were first developed.

I don't think anyone today thinks it just requires superior numbers to win, that ship has long sailed. 

Of course those will think God is on their side, they don't think they have only numbers.

I'm disappointed by the lack of pew pew or bright colors. What's the point of developing a death ray if it doesn't pew pew or have bright colors? Ah well, at least enemy combatants can now say, "Book it, here comes the LaWS" or "I fought the LaWS and the LaWS won".

That will be in six months and made available for download at a slight charge at the shop. :|

Though not being able to easily detect the that particular weapon's invisible strength, radius, or coverage could be considered a plus.

[FatherXmas]

Believe me, I've worked on military weapon system development right out of college in the 80s and if there was a way to create an acronym for it to be used as alternatives in well known quotes, they've thought of all of them already and probably have t-shirts made.

[dwturducken]

Gotta say, CIWS (Sea-whiz?) was not their finest hour, especially since it looked like some kind of robot fertility effigy.

[GuyPerfect]

I DESIGNED THE GIANT DEATH RAY TO AID HUMANITY, NOT DESTROY IT!

There are plenty of ways to destroy humanity. If no one has decided to utilize one of them yet, then I don't think one laser is going to turn the tables.

I'm disappointed by the lack of pew pew or bright colors.

They were there, it's just that light moves so fast you couldn't see it. Unlike on television, laser beams travel faster than 45 miles per hour. (-:

[eabrace]

Unlike on television, laser beams travel faster than 45 miles per hour. (-:

Pfff.  Everyone knows that only happens in a vacuum.

[Triplash]

They were there, it's just that light moves so fast you couldn't see it. Unlike on television, laser beams travel faster than 45 miles per hour. (-:

Well, like the ancient philosopher Socrates once said... "Pics or it didn't happen."

[Mister Bison]

There are plenty of ways to destroy humanity. If no one has decided to utilize one of them yet, then I don't think one laser is going to turn the tables.

Like it would need help from technology, anyway :P

[TimtheEnchanter]

There are plenty of ways to destroy humanity. If no one has decided to utilize one of them yet, then I don't think one laser is going to turn the tables.

That all depends on the laser.

[0nehanklap]

There are plenty of ways to destroy humanity. If no one has decided to utilize one of them yet, then I don't think one laser is going to turn the tables.

You clearly haven't been paying attention to Kim Jong Un's latest threats with NK's new Illudium Q36 Atomic Space Modulator!   :gonk:

[Shenku]

You clearly haven't been paying attention to Kim Jong Un's latest threats with NK's new Illudium Q36 Atomic Space Modulator!   :gonk:

No worries, all we have to do to neutralize that weapon is lure a rabbit into a rocket with some carrots, launch it at North Korea, and the rascally rabbit will take care of the rest.