It sounds like something out of a 60s sci-fi show of sorts, Boeing's latest efforts involves putting a ridiculously large laser blaster on a humvee with the simple intention of blowing up road side bombs. Sure it could be useful, but it also sticks out like a sore thumb.
All the bulk we have here produces a one centimetre thick laser beam which is capable of creating heat twenty times hotter than a stove. It can burn through mortar rounds and unmanned aerial drones but sadly we'll have to wait a long time before it's small enough to hold.
Robotic vehicles with various sensors, from cameras to lasers, were put side by side in a race to prove their worth, not necessarily as the fastest vehicles, but the most reliable. The winner will be decided based on a combination of time completion, observation of road laws, and safety.
While the technology is still just being put to real world tests (such as in this test) it is worthy to note that there were relatively few stuff ups, nothing more serious than a vehicle ending up on a side walk.
FORT WORTH, Texas, December 26, 2006 -- The U.S. government awarded a $635 million Fixed Price Incentive contract to Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] on Dec. 22 to upgrade the Turkish Air Force’s existing fleet of F-16s.
Under the terms of the contract, Lockheed Martin will provide 216 modernization kits to upgrade Turkish F-16C and F-16D model aircraft in the nation’s air force inventory. The effort also includes flight testing, training, technical support and sustainment activities.
Honestly I don’t know what to make of it, but I guess like the saying goes, Turkey’s don’t fly... Ok, that's not a saying but its true enough. Seems like a bit of a rip off deal to me, not too unlike us Australians spending millions on ‘upgrading’ our Tanks.
Well it’s more like buying second hand M1 ABRAM Tanks from the US. Those big metallic pieces of crap, as long as were going second hand why no Soviet T-80’s? They run better in desert conditions for less fuel too!
Same with our small arms, damn it those soviets know how to make weaponry, the AK-47 is cheap, effective and is in the open market, why not buy those? They’re more robust and cheaper than the Steyr Aug’s our infantry uses.
Why spend so much money on troop transport? Why not just spend 15k on a Hilux? Maybe throw an extra 5k to mod it for purposes of war, would still be better than a bloody Humvee.
Now that's what I’m talking about. That's why guerrilla fighters turn to the Hilux, that's why we shouldn’t be spending so much on military. At least this comes with free air.
I guess what I’m trying to say is weapons that are technologically advanced basically suck. I don’t want my rifle crashing on me, or my big over sized tank running out of fuel or with its heavy weight breaking a bridge.
The rest of the press release goes as follows:
This contract continues work started under an initial contract in July 2005, based on an agreement signed between the governments of Turkey and the United States in April 2005.
The work and support of the modernization program will occur primarily at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Fort Worth, Texas, and at Tusas Aerospace Industries in Ankara, Turkey, with the contract running through February 2016.
“Our company and employees take great pride in producing and sustaining the F-16,” said John Larson, Lockheed Martin vice president and deputy of F-16 programs. “We are committed to meeting the needs of our customers and we value the confidence that Turkey has in our company to modernize their existing fleet of aircraft.”
Turkey’s F-16s are part of the fleet of thousands of F-16 aircraft worldwide, representing 24 countries. Lockheed Martin has the capability to provide upgrades and modernization to its international customers to keep the aircraft mission ready and fully supportable over their long service life.
“We are delighted to provide these upgrades for Turkey’s F-16s,” said Willy Moore, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics vice president for Global Sustainment. “This is another great day for our customer and the F-16 program. As the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the F-16, our role is to provide our customers with an affordable solution to modernize their existing fleet. We have the proven experience to offer exceptional operational capability for not only the F-16, but all the aircraft we manufacture.”
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2 billion.
The F-35 is to be the all purpose fighter plane of the grim war torn future. It will directly be replacing the AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers.
A mech is basically a vehicle on legs. Impossible to create? Well thus far, yes, very impossible.
More of a science fiction concept that is best known and recognized in sci-fi movies such as Star Wars (i.e. the ATST), or in videogames such as ‘Mech Warrior’ among many others
What would be the super soldier? Well according to some film makers and writers the perfect soldier would be a ruthless efficient killer desperate to gain acceptance in what he does, in what he is, and desperate for the love of the very country he fights for, for what he is, he’ll act out of hand to defend the country, or do what he believes is defending his country, and he’ll do it well… Also the perfect soldier would happen to be the spitting image of one Marlon Brando and would be a ridiculously good actor.
That’s not the militaries opinion of a super soldier. What the military wants is a soldier who is indestructible. To what degree will they go to do this? I would say that they would go as far as they could
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