New Age Weapons and Warfare

[Aerozord]

As you may or may not know nuclear weapons will soon be obsolete in favor of weapons that don't leave residual radiation and can pin-point targets. This is to discuss not only changes in warfare but also moral implications.

Here is a small list on what is currently being developed.

Rail-gun/Mass-driver: This weapon uses magnets to fire solid metal projectiles hundreds of miles with enough force to destroy city blocks. The weapons shells are immune to anti-air missiles and are near impossible to detect.

Laser/Beam weapon: For now these weapons merely detonate missiles and shells and will replace interception missiles.

Cyber Bullets: Bullets that can shoot into trenches and behind walls making most tactics for trench and urban warfare useless.

Those are just a few. Although these weapons maybe even deadlier then nukes I believe it is more human then nuclear weapons. Those weapons can only be used in large scale killing. These new weapons may take civilians back out of war and keep it on the battle field.

[Sithdarth]

All those are good steps in the right direction. Only problem his they are still lethal. The Army has this Humvee mounted microwave dish the generates massive amounts of pain when it hist someone. Then there are the ordor repellants, rubber bullets, tasers, and even expirments with low and high frequency sound. Then we have EMP's and other completely Cyber weapons such as hackers to disrupt communications. Finally, there is a push for fully atunoumus and controlled UAV's and even tanks. All of which could even put an end to military casulties.

Then there is the otherside. No matter what anybody says I will not be convinced that some branch of the military isn't looking into antimatter as a WMD. It's has to much potential for explosive power and doesn't leave any of the nuclear waste behind. (It does emit massive amounts of radiation when dentonated but all of the antimatter, and an equal portion of normal matter, is used in the dentonation. Thus no heavy radioactive subtances left. The radiation form the explosion could create isotopes of light elements but those decay quickly.)

[popularnerd]

Lasers could theoretically also be mounted on a C-130 Gunship for pinpoint bombardment. But another device in the works is a delivery system theat will replace everything from hand guns to artilery.
It's called Metal Storm, a system that eliminates all the need for the various mechnisms in a gun to fire the round. It looks like a normal MRLS box but is packed with shots in rows in the numerous barrels. A gun like this could fire up to a million rounds a minute if you had that much ammo. Best thing is that the gun could fire non lethal tear gas grenades or rubber bullets. Not as accurate as a laser or or microvave device but useful for things like minefield detonation.

[Luna Santin]

There is a common misconception with railguns that they will always be quite large and capable of destroying entire cities with one blast. That's not necessarily the case. They're only a method of accelerating a metallic projectile to rather high speeds via electromagnetic fields -- as with gunpowder, jet fuel, and other propellants, the concept has many applications at many levels and scales.

Originally Posted by Sithdarth

Then there is the otherside. No matter what anybody says I will not be convinced that some branch of the military isn't looking into antimatter as a WMD. It's has to much potential for explosive power and doesn't leave any of the nuclear waste behind. (It does emit massive amounts of radiation when dentonated but all of the antimatter, and an equal portion of normal matter, is used in the dentonation. Thus no heavy radioactive subtances left. The radiation form the explosion could create isotopes of light elements but those decay quickly.)

There are the minor details that no method presently exists to create, store, transport, or deliver it in any decent quantity. Is antimatter a possible weapon of the future? Assuredly. Is it being researched? Yes. Is it being looked at for applications in the near future? I don't think I could see "yes" as a serious answer.

[Zweihander]

Exosuits are also nearing a very real posiibility. No doubt that every military brass in the world is clamoring for a version with armor plating and weapons systems. At least its starting out in a peaceful manner, no DOD contracts yet...

[The Tortured one]

Spartan, i assume you saw that history channel show as well? It uses electrical impulses to ignite the round out of the barrel, neat stuff. the main problem with metal storm is there is no way sustain fire. if that can be overcome, then it could be the heavy weapon of choice for many militaries.

in more recent terms, the Army's primary goal in R&D is increasing the lethality of the soldier while at the same time increasing comfort and protection. I've seen initial concept art for soldiers in 2030, it's rather remarkable. Body armor, while retaining it's strength against bullets, would be the size of a body suit. It is prototyped to the soldier's body, allowing maximum comfort and maneuverability. The body suit, in addition, has microcameras which project the image on the other side of the person, in other words, stealth camo. The helmet looks like a motorcycle helmet, but in actuality is an innovative HUB system with compass and GPS headings, targeters of friendlies, and communication with the other members of the squad. The gun is no larger then a large pistol, but is fully automatic and "smart bullets" means it retains it's lethality at ranges that dwarf modern rifles.

the whole thing weights about 25 pounds. In contrast, WW2 equipment weighted close to 100 pounds, and modern outfitting weighs about 50 pounds.

[popularnerd]

saw it there and in PS, but railguns would be a more accurate and better version of long range artilery. Missles can be intercepted and current versions of artillery are limmited by range. A rail gun could put a tungsten rod on any thing on one side of the world at 6000 mph. It cant be intercepted. Problem is that the gun usually gets damaged when firing. (yes darpa has a prototype) As for the exosuits, that "suit" was geared more towards helping those who couldn't move with ease,like stroke victims. As for actual armored infantry exo skeletons, you could probably expect to see them in around 30 years.

[Aerozord]

well I dont trust any of these invisioned weapons and only what is in working form.

I mean they said we would have robot butlers and flying cars by 2000

Also Black holes are the only known source of anti-matter. We cannot get to nor contain it at the moment

[adamark]

Usually what's envisioned by commoners like ourselves isn't all that "visionary."

What interests me is psy-Ops warfare. But I don't know much about it.

Also shock and vibration weaponry. One that comes to mind was known as the "Kokomo Hum" (google it). Certain human organs inside our bodies have natural frequencies. Think about what you learned in high school physics (if you took it), vibrate an object at its natural frequency and you get twice the reaction.

If you emitted a hum over a large radius you could make every human body sick, dizzy, unable to control their... bowels. Combine that with anti-hum vests you could give your own soldiers and you see where I'm going with this...

[The Tortured one]

psy-ops? where did you get any information that militaries are researching such stuff?