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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 Spook brat on Thursday July 05 2018, @08:15PM (4 children)
I would have thought that antipersonnel use of lasers would be prohibited by international law, but apparently it's only a violation if the intent is to blind. [wikipedia.org] If the intent is to kill them outright, then incidental blindness isn't a violation.
Next someone is going to tell me that my drill sergeant was wrong when he said we couldn't use a .50 cal against human targets, unless we were aiming at their dog tags... [wikipedia.org]
Seriously, though, the likelihood of one of these lasers blinding bystanders (including friendly forces) is high enough that no one should want to use them, let alone need to be told not to. <sarcasm>Good news is, it only took 15 years to adopt the protocol on blinding laser weapons from the time it was introduced, and another three to come into force. If we start proceedings in the UN today we can have these new lasers outlawed by 2036.</sarcasm>
Travel the galaxy! Meet fascinating life forms... And kill them [schlockmercenary.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 05 2018, @08:20PM (1 child)
Bystanders = "military age males" = OK to kill
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 05 2018, @08:24PM
And ISIS et. all have bumped this age down to what, 9? Why don't we just get to the end game and shove people into food processors.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday July 05 2018, @09:07PM
Maybe its just for Domestic use, kind of like a branding iron.
That guy in the crowd gets a burn tattoo and makes him easy to track down.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Friday July 06 2018, @12:23AM
I would have thought 1,000 shots per second, capable of setting your uniform on fire, no clue how long it takes to recharge, would be prohibited by the George Carlin Institute of You Have Got To Be Shitting Me.
Then again, I've been wrong before.
Oh bother. less than greater than that gets edited out vs []. I get so tired of this shit.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.