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Recommendation: "Futureweapons" on the Discovery Channel
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
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If you're into defense technology at all, check out this show!
Things I've learned so far:
We have a few anti-missle laser systems that seem ready to go. The one that mounts on a jumbo jet actually uses three different lasers. One for actually blowing things up, one for targeting, and (I thought this was the cool part) one to make adjustments for atmospheric conditions. Time from target acquisition to destruction: 12-15 seconds. Range: over 100 miles.
The host, who's an ex-SEAL, got to play with the Barrett .50 cal sniper rifle (made famous in Cody's Free Roaming Cat thread). He claimed it had less recoil than the (presumably .30-06) sniper rifles he was used to. I talked to a Ranger who said the thing almost broke his shoulder, though that was a few years back, so the recoil compensation seems to have improved dramatically. Even with ball ammo (they couldn't get AP or APX rounds) the thing would chew through cinder blocks and almost penetrate 1/4" armor steel... at 2000 meters! For the metrically impaired, that's over a mile.
They did a segment on the new German self-propelled artillery piece with an automatic loader. The one part that wasn't automatic was the poor dude who has to shove in the powder charge before the breech severs off his arm. It was funny to hear the German commander say "shoot und scoot".
The host's attempts at drama usually fall flat, but the people he interviews seem to like him and appreciate that he comes from a military background. He gets just as excited about blowing stuff up as R. Lee Ermey does on "Mail Call". Well, almost. The Gunny really likes to blow stuff up.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Nice post! I didn't know you cared about such things.
I must start paying you more attention. 
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America should know the political orientation of government officials who might be in a position to adversely influence the future of this country. http://tinyurl.com/4vucu5
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Photo Architect
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bamberg, Germany
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That would be the PzH2000:
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"Microsoft is a cross between the Borg and the Ferengi. Unfortunately, they use Borg to do their marketing and Ferengi to do their programming." Simon Slavin
Me on Flickr.
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Philadelphia
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We should see these well before 2264.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status:
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Originally Posted by Sourbook
We should see these well before 2264.
It's one of those hand blenders.
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"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Live at the BBQ
Status:
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Originally Posted by subego
If you're into defense technology at all, check out this show!
Did you catch the episode on the Javelin? A shoulder-fired, fire-and-forget anti-tank missile... very impressive!
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"Bill Gates can't guarantee Windows... how can you guarantee my safety?"
-John Crichton
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2003
Status:
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The information in the show is excellent, but the host is annoying, with his attempted dramatization of said information. He's a SEAL and weapons expert, not an TV actor...and they shouldn't try to pass him off as one.
That said, that CornerShot (or whatever it was called) system looked pretty nice. Now if only they can find away to make it work with something larger than a handgun or an M203, we're in good shape.
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Midshipman 3/C, USNR
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by himself
Did you catch the episode on the Javelin? A shoulder-fired, fire-and-forget anti-tank missile... very impressive!
Yes! When the designer said he had talked to soldiers who said "the only reason I'm alive right now is because of the Javelin", I must admit, I got a little choked-up.
Other cool segments:
Projected sound weapon
Predator UAV
I'm really pissed-off I missed the "Metal Storm" segment. I've been curious about that for a year or so.
Originally Posted by Mister Elf
The information in the show is excellent, but the host is annoying, with his attempted dramatization of said information. He's a SEAL and weapons expert, not an TV actor...and they shouldn't try to pass him off as one.
Absolutely agreed. He needs a bona-fide director if he's going to pull that off. Fortunately I don't think he's a dealbreaker, plus, I'm willing to give him a chance to find the groove.
He was way over the top with the EMP segment. However I thought conducting one of his interviews in a cab at night was a nice touch. You got to see all the pretty lights of the city that an EMP would just fry.
Now, if you ever watched "Decisive Battles", the host almost made the show unwatchable.
Originally Posted by Mister Elf
That said, that CornerShot (or whatever it was called) system looked pretty nice. Now if only they can find away to make it work with something larger than a handgun or an M203, we're in good shape.
Well they fit it with a chopped down M-16. Considering how tough it looked to control the M203 at that awkward angle, I wouldn't want to try it.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Montréal, Québec (Canada)
Status:
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Originally Posted by olePigeon
It's one of those hand blenders.
Hahaha 
"Behold! Surrender or I will be forced to use this powerful... uh.. uh.. Ah crap! Scotty, beam me up right f*cking now!!!!"
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