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China Claims to Have a Laser Assault Rifle That Can Set Clothes on Fire
China allegedly has a "laser assault rifle" that can fire a thousand shots at a time, "carbonizing" human skin and tissue.
The ZKZM-500 laser assault rifle, profiled in the South China Morning Post, is described as a laser wonder weapon. The article raises more questions than it answers, though Beijing's research into laser weapons is particularly pertinent given recent allegations that Chinese military personnel have injured U.S. military personnel with high-powered lasers.
According to the report, the ZKZM-500 is a handheld laser assault rifle. Unlike ordinary sleek assault rifles, this weapon is a clunky rectangular shape with a pistol grip, foregrip, and a telescopic sight. The weapon is powered by a lithium battery capable of supplying power for up to a thousand two-second shots.
[...] [It's] difficult to believe this weapon is as powerful as advertised. Although the article discusses the weapon's burning effects in detail, the ZKZM-500's wattage is conveniently left out. [...] Power storage is another problem. The ZKZM-500 can reportedly fire a thousand two-second shots, the equivalent of 33 minutes of laser power, from a "lithium battery." There's no way a weapon the size of a rifle can store that much energy internally given today's technology, even if it were stuffed with batteries. To store the equivalent of 33 minutes of laser power would require a considerable power supply outside the rifle itself.
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Thursday July 05 2018, @07:48PM (5 children)
Obvious features that have to be included with such a weapon:
- Terrible recoil and aiming ability, at least when shooting at anyone important to the plot
- A speaker generating a "pew pew pew" sound when fired
Training the troops using it to say "Die rebel scum!" is optional, of course.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday July 05 2018, @07:54PM (1 child)
How many units will the US Military want to order from China?
How high will Trump set the import tariffs?
Will they come with hilariously poorly translated English instructions?
Warranty?
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(Score: 2, Insightful) by Sulla on Thursday July 05 2018, @08:59PM
That assumes that America's military companies do not already have such a weapon developed. I am sure that playing up this news from china will be beneficial to the MIC in getting the US to further invest in laser tech.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 2) by fadrian on Thursday July 05 2018, @10:05PM
Training the troops using it to say "Die rebel scum!" is optional, of course.
Yeah, it depends on what budget you have for speaking parts, extra sound processing, etc.
That is all.
(Score: 3, Funny) by DannyB on Friday July 06 2018, @02:12PM (1 child)
These weapons should come with:
* non-replaceable battery, that limits life of the weapon to that of battery lifetime
* no headphone jack
* software updates that lag by months of years
* bloatware
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(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Friday July 06 2018, @03:12PM
Oh, so they're made by Microsoft's supply chain then?
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.