Pew Pew! China releases "Laser Assault Rifle" with a range of ~1KM

[Clanscorpia]

16 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

It's only useful if you're a civilized country with traditionally western values.

 

The Middle East fails on the first stipulation, China the second.

Violating the Geneva Convention would also mean extreme post war retaliation, likely far worse than the Treaty of Versailles to Germany. Because they are international law, they'd be extremely strict about it, and likely strip all of Chinas advantages in the UN such as being a permanent member of the UN security council.

[BurnedPriest]

1 hour ago, kelvinhall05 said:

That's scary.

Damn China, you scary!

[Clanscorpia]

4 minutes ago, VegetableStu said:

ELI5 what would be lost? o_o

Because China is a permanent member of the UN security council, they have a veto on any type of military action the UN might take. Basically they can shut down anything that happens in the UN that has to do with the military. You might remember Russia using this power when the UN was going to take action in Crimea. They would lose this power which is a huge asset. The Treaty of Versailles ruined post war Germany, making them pay extreme debts, and limiting any type of economic activity they might try. China would surely lose their spot as one of the top economies in the world with the amount of sanctions that would be against it for breaking such a universally accepted treaty.

[Drak3]

2 minutes ago, Clanscorpia said:

Because they are international law,

Yeah, because that means oh so much.

 

2 minutes ago, Clanscorpia said:

extreme post war retaliation,

Given the world's refusal to move non Chinese industry out of China, there is no reason to care. They can cripple half of the world's economy.

3 minutes ago, Clanscorpia said:

and likely strip all of Chinas advantages in the UN such as being a permanent member of the UN security council.

That isn't nearly as impactful as one thinks when, again, a country doesn't share in western values.

 

The geneva convention is a fucking joke, and to potential enemies (like China, Russia, the Middle East), just a metaphorical piece of paper to wipe one's ass with.

[ScratchCat]

In other news: The US Military buys 1 Million tonnes of reflective sequins.

[rcmaehl]

Perhaps Sci-Fi was right. Perhaps everything will be chrome to reflect all the laser weapons. I personally can't wait!

[WereCat]

When you miss and set an entire forest ablaze.

[flibberdipper]

1 hour ago, wojtepanik said:

laser weapon can't be used against human, as there can't be weapon that blind people permanently

You are aware that literally any normal gun down to BB guns can blind people... Right?

[Christophe Corazza]

So has anyone actually seen one or do we just take their word for it?

[Drak3]

2 minutes ago, Christophe Corazza said:

So has anyone actually seen one or do we just take their word for it?

Take their word for it. It's not like it's not possible with today's tech. But the likelyhood of it being able to replace an AK47, or any other conventional weapon, is basically zero.

[John Ellmaker]

In related news blu blockers stock is skyrocketing.

 

How soon can they attach these to drones?

[Christophe Corazza]

8 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

Take their word for it. It's not like it's not possible with today's tech. But the likelyhood of it being able to replace an AK47, or any other conventional weapon, is basically zero.

 

I know… People are too naive about china… They have indeed already created so many miracles and the technology is sufficiently advanced. However, I would still like to see it though... 

[Christophe Corazza]

1 hour ago, rcmaehl said:

China releases "Laser Assault Rifle" with a range of ~1KM

 

So many people to use it on... university students, journalists, human rights lawyers, bookshop owners, Tibetans...

 

Made in China... Batteries not included

[asus killer]

"the only way to stop a bad guy with a laser is a good guy with a laser"

 

"shooting in high school in *insert random US city* "

[Drak3]

11 minutes ago, Christophe Corazza said:

They have indeed already created so many miracles and the technology is sufficiently advanced

PFFFFFFT.

 

Chinese technology is stolen technology.

4 minutes ago, asus killer said:

the only way to stop a bad guy with a laser is a good guy with a laser

Basically.

[Trixanity]

54 minutes ago, Clanscorpia said:

Violating the Geneva Convention would also mean extreme post war retaliation, likely far worse than the Treaty of Versailles to Germany. Because they are international law, they'd be extremely strict about it, and likely strip all of Chinas advantages in the UN such as being a permanent member of the UN security council.

Well, nothing has happened to the US for violations, so don't count on China getting anything but a stern look.

[Vode]

1 hour ago, LordOTaco said:

So will testudos become a thing now with mirror shields?

Mirrors don‘t work against high power lasers.

[Ashaira]

1 hour ago, Kukielka said:

So you don't consider the Geneva Convention to be useful?

A piece of paper is only valid so long as those who signed it hold to their word. It doesn't have magic restraining powers.

[Brooksie359]

2 hours ago, Drak3 said:

Meh. Suppress a 338 Lapua magnum rifle, and not only is it undetected at distance, but it'll go past 1KM, and kill instantly.

 

A welrod will do the same thing, hut if you're in the same room.

A laser travels at the speed of light. That is a huge advantage when it comes to aiming the thing. 

[TacoSenpai]

7 minutes ago, Vode said:

Mirrors don‘t work against high power lasers.

Well excusssse me princess

 

 

[SammyG13]

2 hours ago, wojtepanik said:

laser weapon can't be used against human, as there can't be weapon that blind people permanently

if you get shot in the eye im sure you can be blind permanently, hell even a head shot if you survive can do that. 

[Brooksie359]

1 hour ago, ScratchCat said:

In other news: The US Military buys 1 Million tonnes of reflective sequins.

All new military uniforms will be mirrors and tinfoil. 

[LAwLz]

The problem with laser weapons in the past has been it takes a long time focusing on a small area before enough heat had been built up for it to be harmful. 

 

How long time does it take before this weapons deals any damage? 

[Brooksie359]

20 minutes ago, Vode said:

Mirrors don‘t work against high power lasers.

How could you possibly know what works against these weapons? 

[Taf the Ghost]

18 minutes ago, Ashaira said:

A piece of paper is only valid so long as those who signed it hold to their word. It doesn't have magic restraining powers.

Correct, but Geneva violations shouldn't be thought of as normal laws. What they are is "standards in war", which means response has to be taken in-kind.

 

Mass Area Blinding weaponry has been doable for a couple of decades. It's not as hard as people might think. The issue is in-kind response by enemies. It's the reason Chemical weapons have rarely been used since WW1. It's not that they weren't produced, it's just the in-kind response is brutal to the side that breaks the Standard.

 

Plus, this is going to be a crap weapon regardless. Battery tech isn't good enough for these to be viable for anything but some defensive applications.