SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
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: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 05 2018, @10:01PM (4 children)
Portable lasgun: 1 kg
Battery for portable lasgun: 1000 kg
(Score: 2) by SpockLogic on Thursday July 05 2018, @11:45PM (2 children)
Elon Musk is going to make a killing.
Sorry, it had to be said.
Overreacting is one thing, sticking your head up your ass hoping the problem goes away is another - edIII
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 06 2018, @12:13AM (1 child)
(Score: 1) by Sulla on Friday July 06 2018, @05:16AM
BP marketing dept here, your post was seen and your check is in the mail. Keep it up and invite your friends, $0.25/post!
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 2, Interesting) by tftp on Thursday July 05 2018, @11:48PM
See the previous topic: 30+ kW diesel engine in a 10" box. Fits into a backpack, produces more power than the gun can utilize without melting down. Not for secret ops, of course, but fine on a battlefield or for crowd control - modulo the morality of a blinding weapon.
On that topic, the armies soon will have to transition to full face helmet with very fast (1 us,) automatic adjustment of transparency. Or a 100% VR, with eyes protected by a steel plate.