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Ok, this is it, the power armor prototype.
Shading is quite fubar right now as i did it very quickly, might do a better shaded version tomorrow.
This adaptive armor made from nano-materials has the ability to completly fuse with a properly trained and upgraded pilot.
It enhances not only the strength, speed and endurance of the wearer,
but also greatly increases the availiable sensory input, combines it with an advanced ai system and thus offers the user a wide varieties of tactical information and support functions.
The Armor is outfitted with either holo and shield generators for maximum resiliance or stealth.
All standart issue light and heavy weapons are usable and can be powered by the optional backpack generator.
There is also the possibility for a shoulder mounted light assault weapon.
Additional options include a jetpack, EnviroSeal Systems and extra weapon hardpoints all controlled via the built in neural interface.
Comments as always appreciated :D
Edit: Ok, updated version uploaded :)
Shading is quite fubar right now as i did it very quickly, might do a better shaded version tomorrow.
This adaptive armor made from nano-materials has the ability to completly fuse with a properly trained and upgraded pilot.
It enhances not only the strength, speed and endurance of the wearer,
but also greatly increases the availiable sensory input, combines it with an advanced ai system and thus offers the user a wide varieties of tactical information and support functions.
The Armor is outfitted with either holo and shield generators for maximum resiliance or stealth.
All standart issue light and heavy weapons are usable and can be powered by the optional backpack generator.
There is also the possibility for a shoulder mounted light assault weapon.
Additional options include a jetpack, EnviroSeal Systems and extra weapon hardpoints all controlled via the built in neural interface.
Comments as always appreciated :D
Edit: Ok, updated version uploaded :)
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 500 x 1000px
File Size 616.9 kB
Hello, dear.
If I may be so bold, I will address each of the salient points of your description on a point-by-point basis, providing critique and thoughts.
This adaptive armor made from nano-materials has the ability to completely fuse with a properly trained and upgraded pilot.
I wouldn't necessarily consider this an excellent idea, as this would serve, in the event of any kind of effective information warfare, as a gateway to "hack" the biological mind of the target, or alter the upgrades' programming to upset any number of biological and chemical balances. In addition, such a fusion process would likely also make it very difficult to eventually remove, as while the meshing process may be easy, the un-meshing would likely leave the pilot injured, or at the least in less than top form from, at minimum, skin alteration.
It enhances not only the strength, speed and endurance of the wearer,
but also greatly increases the available sensory input, combines it with an advanced AI system and thus offers the user a wide varieties of tactical information and support functions.
Reasonable, but one must also be careful of information overload. Even an effective sensor-fusion environment (where multiple sensors are combined and filtered to present a coherent, single image as opposed to multiple separate ones) can quickly overload the rapid processing ability of the biological mind. While AI support can mitigate this, there is always the question of how much combat authority one wishes to cede to a compromiseable resource.
The Armor is outfitted with either holo and shield generators for maximum resilience or stealth.
While holographics are an intriguing concept to play around with, they are emissive systems, and can also be disrupted by other lasers (as by their nature holographics rely upon lasers). In addition to this, there is the matter of processing speed and time to manage image adjustment, especially when involved in high-speed movement. Perhaps a better system (certainly one far less power-consuming) would be to use the armor's own skin as a projection medium for a non-holographic video-like system, something akin to the so-called "thermoptic" systems from Ghost in the Shell. Using thin-film display technology would easily allow for the integration of such a system into the armor, and would consume far less power (and thus generate less of a signature) than a comparable holographic system.
On the matter of stealthing, I can easily see this being done, specifically working against antipersonnel radars (millimeter-wave radar). As well, it is completely feasible to include both active and passive sound-dampening systems.
All standart issue light and heavy weapons are usable and can be powered by the optional backpack generator.
This sounds like a no-brainer to me, as logically any infantry system should be able to use the current-issue infantry weapons, from small arms up to anti-vehicle systems. After looking over your rough sketches and ideas for weapons, I might make a single suggestion: I recommend going with integral power systems, even if they must be interchangeable. By doing so, you eliminate the worry of having a suite of weapons go dead if the generator powering them goes offline for any number of reasons. It also makes it possible to deploy such weapons with unpowered / unenhanced infantry, which while less mobile than powered / armored infantry are by their nature also capable of extreme stealth (ask any sniper about that little bit. ^_^ )
There is also the possibility for a shoulder mounted light assault weapon.
Such a weapon would barely be considered "light", as it would more than likely be configured as an anti-armor / anti-vehicle role, thus placing said weapon firmly and squarely into the "heavy infantry" range at minimum, or /perhaps/ light vehicle-mounted weapon.
Additional options include a jetpack, EnviroSeal Systems and extra weapon hardpoints all controlled via the built in neural interface.
My notes above cover the problems inherent in a neural interface. As for a jetpack, it would by its' nature need to be gravitic, as anything using combustible fuels will not provide for a significant long flight time while maintaining portability and especially low-signature operations.
Environmental sealing should, in my opinion, be standard for any given armored suit. Considering the likelihood of use on the modern battlefield of NBC warfare, sealing ones' suit would make sense. Better to "nip the problem in the bud" so to speak than have to "button up" after detection of hostile substances.
As a note, given the future (and the mention above of nanotech), you may wish to look into the use of nanoweaponry / nanoplagues. Also, be aware that nanotech is, in and of itself, in an unsupported (non-networked free-standing) environment, only able to operate on VERY simple instructions. Contrary to Star Trek and many other science fiction pieces, nanotech will likely be somewhat temperature-fragile, definitely environmentally fragile, and able to be destroyed either by cryonics or incendiaries, in addition to electromagnetics. Carbon-based nanotech is, when suspended in aerosol, what amounts to a fuel-air explosive (dust explosion).
I hope that you do not mind me critiquing your work. I only do this if I find the idea has significant merit and is intriguing, without passing the bounds of logic or foreseeable science.
Yours in appreciation,
Mika Kyubi
Kitsune-at-Large
If I may be so bold, I will address each of the salient points of your description on a point-by-point basis, providing critique and thoughts.
This adaptive armor made from nano-materials has the ability to completely fuse with a properly trained and upgraded pilot.
I wouldn't necessarily consider this an excellent idea, as this would serve, in the event of any kind of effective information warfare, as a gateway to "hack" the biological mind of the target, or alter the upgrades' programming to upset any number of biological and chemical balances. In addition, such a fusion process would likely also make it very difficult to eventually remove, as while the meshing process may be easy, the un-meshing would likely leave the pilot injured, or at the least in less than top form from, at minimum, skin alteration.
It enhances not only the strength, speed and endurance of the wearer,
but also greatly increases the available sensory input, combines it with an advanced AI system and thus offers the user a wide varieties of tactical information and support functions.
Reasonable, but one must also be careful of information overload. Even an effective sensor-fusion environment (where multiple sensors are combined and filtered to present a coherent, single image as opposed to multiple separate ones) can quickly overload the rapid processing ability of the biological mind. While AI support can mitigate this, there is always the question of how much combat authority one wishes to cede to a compromiseable resource.
The Armor is outfitted with either holo and shield generators for maximum resilience or stealth.
While holographics are an intriguing concept to play around with, they are emissive systems, and can also be disrupted by other lasers (as by their nature holographics rely upon lasers). In addition to this, there is the matter of processing speed and time to manage image adjustment, especially when involved in high-speed movement. Perhaps a better system (certainly one far less power-consuming) would be to use the armor's own skin as a projection medium for a non-holographic video-like system, something akin to the so-called "thermoptic" systems from Ghost in the Shell. Using thin-film display technology would easily allow for the integration of such a system into the armor, and would consume far less power (and thus generate less of a signature) than a comparable holographic system.
On the matter of stealthing, I can easily see this being done, specifically working against antipersonnel radars (millimeter-wave radar). As well, it is completely feasible to include both active and passive sound-dampening systems.
All standart issue light and heavy weapons are usable and can be powered by the optional backpack generator.
This sounds like a no-brainer to me, as logically any infantry system should be able to use the current-issue infantry weapons, from small arms up to anti-vehicle systems. After looking over your rough sketches and ideas for weapons, I might make a single suggestion: I recommend going with integral power systems, even if they must be interchangeable. By doing so, you eliminate the worry of having a suite of weapons go dead if the generator powering them goes offline for any number of reasons. It also makes it possible to deploy such weapons with unpowered / unenhanced infantry, which while less mobile than powered / armored infantry are by their nature also capable of extreme stealth (ask any sniper about that little bit. ^_^ )
There is also the possibility for a shoulder mounted light assault weapon.
Such a weapon would barely be considered "light", as it would more than likely be configured as an anti-armor / anti-vehicle role, thus placing said weapon firmly and squarely into the "heavy infantry" range at minimum, or /perhaps/ light vehicle-mounted weapon.
Additional options include a jetpack, EnviroSeal Systems and extra weapon hardpoints all controlled via the built in neural interface.
My notes above cover the problems inherent in a neural interface. As for a jetpack, it would by its' nature need to be gravitic, as anything using combustible fuels will not provide for a significant long flight time while maintaining portability and especially low-signature operations.
Environmental sealing should, in my opinion, be standard for any given armored suit. Considering the likelihood of use on the modern battlefield of NBC warfare, sealing ones' suit would make sense. Better to "nip the problem in the bud" so to speak than have to "button up" after detection of hostile substances.
As a note, given the future (and the mention above of nanotech), you may wish to look into the use of nanoweaponry / nanoplagues. Also, be aware that nanotech is, in and of itself, in an unsupported (non-networked free-standing) environment, only able to operate on VERY simple instructions. Contrary to Star Trek and many other science fiction pieces, nanotech will likely be somewhat temperature-fragile, definitely environmentally fragile, and able to be destroyed either by cryonics or incendiaries, in addition to electromagnetics. Carbon-based nanotech is, when suspended in aerosol, what amounts to a fuel-air explosive (dust explosion).
I hope that you do not mind me critiquing your work. I only do this if I find the idea has significant merit and is intriguing, without passing the bounds of logic or foreseeable science.
Yours in appreciation,
Mika Kyubi
Kitsune-at-Large
Thanks for the in-depth review of the stuff, i really enjoyed reading it ^^
About security:
E-warfare is of course a very real risk and maximum security options are taken to provide security to the wearer.
For example several systems monitor the data flow, senders and recipients and the integrated AI serves as a kind of intelligent firewall against any hacking attempt.
About Fusion:
It is true that fusion is more of a long term commitment than a simple suit on concept.
The armor is usually only deployed in larger, drawn out conflicts where longer field times are to be excepted.
While there is damage done to the host body during the fusion process, the usual wearer with upgrades can easily repair the damage over time after the armor is removed.
It is in no way recommended that an unupgraded individuum tries to use the armor.
About stealth system:
Although a photofilm surface is much more economically and not a energy consuming it has several drawbacks:
For example such a system can not hide shadows or weapons fire.
It is also easily damaged and probably not as convincing after a few hits, thus not really usable for a retreat for example.
With a holographic generator coupled to the shield system the aror retains its cloacking properties for a significantly longer time, even while actively enganging, since the fields can mask the weapon activities.
It is also possible to extent the fields so other non equipped personel or civilians for example can be hidden with the outfit.
Since the generators are hidden within the suit the signature is not as strong as you might expect it to be.
And what is left can be masked by proper use of ECM.
About weapons:
AS said, they CAN be powered. Of course it depends on the weapon design if this is needed or not.
Weapons with cartridge ammo are of course feasonable for many situations and the integrated nano replication system can provide spares for most ammunition types.
But for the weapons going dead: once the generator is destroyed the suit has only spare power for half an hour at max in emergency cells.
You should try to retreat as fast as possible then anyways instead of keeping the fight on.
About shoulder mounted weapons:
They might be considered very heavy for standart infatry class, but are still considered light for the armor class they are designed for: the larger assault class, which counts already to the mechanized exosceletons.
While this suit is still considered heavy infantry.
About nanotech:
As you said nanotech is generally not a widespread used phenomenon, but often in a controlled enviroment.
While nanowarfare is practised it is considered inefficient for most approaches.
About security:
E-warfare is of course a very real risk and maximum security options are taken to provide security to the wearer.
For example several systems monitor the data flow, senders and recipients and the integrated AI serves as a kind of intelligent firewall against any hacking attempt.
About Fusion:
It is true that fusion is more of a long term commitment than a simple suit on concept.
The armor is usually only deployed in larger, drawn out conflicts where longer field times are to be excepted.
While there is damage done to the host body during the fusion process, the usual wearer with upgrades can easily repair the damage over time after the armor is removed.
It is in no way recommended that an unupgraded individuum tries to use the armor.
About stealth system:
Although a photofilm surface is much more economically and not a energy consuming it has several drawbacks:
For example such a system can not hide shadows or weapons fire.
It is also easily damaged and probably not as convincing after a few hits, thus not really usable for a retreat for example.
With a holographic generator coupled to the shield system the aror retains its cloacking properties for a significantly longer time, even while actively enganging, since the fields can mask the weapon activities.
It is also possible to extent the fields so other non equipped personel or civilians for example can be hidden with the outfit.
Since the generators are hidden within the suit the signature is not as strong as you might expect it to be.
And what is left can be masked by proper use of ECM.
About weapons:
AS said, they CAN be powered. Of course it depends on the weapon design if this is needed or not.
Weapons with cartridge ammo are of course feasonable for many situations and the integrated nano replication system can provide spares for most ammunition types.
But for the weapons going dead: once the generator is destroyed the suit has only spare power for half an hour at max in emergency cells.
You should try to retreat as fast as possible then anyways instead of keeping the fight on.
About shoulder mounted weapons:
They might be considered very heavy for standart infatry class, but are still considered light for the armor class they are designed for: the larger assault class, which counts already to the mechanized exosceletons.
While this suit is still considered heavy infantry.
About nanotech:
As you said nanotech is generally not a widespread used phenomenon, but often in a controlled enviroment.
While nanowarfare is practised it is considered inefficient for most approaches.
Hello, dear.
Rarely is it that I find my points both so well-accepted and so well-replied to. I deeply appreciate this. You show something I admit is rare: both a working knowledge of physics and science, and an understanding of how this applies to the military. In addition, I compliment you on haveing an understanding of the military, as opposed to the more common pseudo-logic prevalent in the fandom of "barely trained murderous thugs with guns". Thank you VERY much for reaffirming my faith in the thoughtfulness and intelligence present here.
On the matters of your rebuffs, which are decently thought out, I have minor critiquing, but elsewise find them viable and well within reason, showing that the matter has been thought out beyond the more obvious flaws. I appreciate this matter perhaps more than anything else.
With this being said, onward to my critiques. As before, I shall address the salient points of the matters using quotations where possible.
About stealth system:
Although a photofilm surface is much more economically and not a energy consuming it has several drawbacks:
For example such a system can not hide shadows or weapons fire.
It is also easily damaged and probably not as convincing after a few hits, thus not really usable for a retreat for example.
I will agree to the lack of ability to hide shadows. As for hiding weapons fire, while the muzzle flash of a projectile weapon or explosive cartridge weapon can be hid by holographics, it cannot prevent the sound from travelling, and there are currently-fielded detection systems, which will likely become significantly more advanced in the very near future, which can pinpoint the origin of weapons fire via the acoustic signature. While on a battlefield geared for attrition warfare as opposed to mobility warfare this would prove unviable, in less saturated environments it is highly effective, especially in urban environments. Coupled with the likely ability to know the position of all friendly units within weapons-fire range, and thusly edit them out of the acoustic sensor picture, this makes such a system highly effective on the battlefield, especially in your sensor-fusion environment.
On the matter again of signatures, there is the matter of what is known as a DEW line, or Directed Energy Weapon line. This is the effect caused by excitement of the atmospheric medium through which an energy weapon (be it plasma, particle beam, or laser) must travel. This line is drawn along line-of-sight between weapon and target, and cannot be effectively masked.
On the matter of shadows and muzzle-flashes, perhaps a limited use of holographics would come into play, thus allowing for an even lower signature.
Since the generators are hidden within the suit the signature is not as strong as you might expect it to be.
And what is left can be masked by proper use of ECM.
ECM, like active sensors, unless VERY carefully applied, is like the old proverb: If a fire serves to see by, it also serves to be seen.
About weapons:
AS said, they CAN be powered. Of course it depends on the weapon design if this is needed or not.
Weapons with cartridge ammo are of course feasonable for many situations and the integrated nano replication system can provide spares for most ammunition types.
But for the weapons going dead: once the generator is destroyed the suit has only spare power for half an hour at max in emergency cells.
Have you looked into the use of rechargeable fast-discharge superconductor storage loops and/or rapid-discharge capacitors to serve as "ammo" for energy weapons? This would allow for interchangeable "clips", each carrying a fixed number of charges.
Nano-replication systems are VERY work and time intensive, plus it requires a feedstock to work from, not to mention likely being shock-sensitive. Such a system, while likely useful for behind-the-lines supply, would be bulky, weighty, and processor-intensive, and thus not likely suited well for active battlefield deployment.
Well, now that all of that is out of the way, I feel I should inform you that I am greatly enjoying this conversation!
Yours in appreciation,
Mika Kyubi
Kitsune-at-Large
Rarely is it that I find my points both so well-accepted and so well-replied to. I deeply appreciate this. You show something I admit is rare: both a working knowledge of physics and science, and an understanding of how this applies to the military. In addition, I compliment you on haveing an understanding of the military, as opposed to the more common pseudo-logic prevalent in the fandom of "barely trained murderous thugs with guns". Thank you VERY much for reaffirming my faith in the thoughtfulness and intelligence present here.
On the matters of your rebuffs, which are decently thought out, I have minor critiquing, but elsewise find them viable and well within reason, showing that the matter has been thought out beyond the more obvious flaws. I appreciate this matter perhaps more than anything else.
With this being said, onward to my critiques. As before, I shall address the salient points of the matters using quotations where possible.
About stealth system:
Although a photofilm surface is much more economically and not a energy consuming it has several drawbacks:
For example such a system can not hide shadows or weapons fire.
It is also easily damaged and probably not as convincing after a few hits, thus not really usable for a retreat for example.
I will agree to the lack of ability to hide shadows. As for hiding weapons fire, while the muzzle flash of a projectile weapon or explosive cartridge weapon can be hid by holographics, it cannot prevent the sound from travelling, and there are currently-fielded detection systems, which will likely become significantly more advanced in the very near future, which can pinpoint the origin of weapons fire via the acoustic signature. While on a battlefield geared for attrition warfare as opposed to mobility warfare this would prove unviable, in less saturated environments it is highly effective, especially in urban environments. Coupled with the likely ability to know the position of all friendly units within weapons-fire range, and thusly edit them out of the acoustic sensor picture, this makes such a system highly effective on the battlefield, especially in your sensor-fusion environment.
On the matter again of signatures, there is the matter of what is known as a DEW line, or Directed Energy Weapon line. This is the effect caused by excitement of the atmospheric medium through which an energy weapon (be it plasma, particle beam, or laser) must travel. This line is drawn along line-of-sight between weapon and target, and cannot be effectively masked.
On the matter of shadows and muzzle-flashes, perhaps a limited use of holographics would come into play, thus allowing for an even lower signature.
Since the generators are hidden within the suit the signature is not as strong as you might expect it to be.
And what is left can be masked by proper use of ECM.
ECM, like active sensors, unless VERY carefully applied, is like the old proverb: If a fire serves to see by, it also serves to be seen.
About weapons:
AS said, they CAN be powered. Of course it depends on the weapon design if this is needed or not.
Weapons with cartridge ammo are of course feasonable for many situations and the integrated nano replication system can provide spares for most ammunition types.
But for the weapons going dead: once the generator is destroyed the suit has only spare power for half an hour at max in emergency cells.
Have you looked into the use of rechargeable fast-discharge superconductor storage loops and/or rapid-discharge capacitors to serve as "ammo" for energy weapons? This would allow for interchangeable "clips", each carrying a fixed number of charges.
Nano-replication systems are VERY work and time intensive, plus it requires a feedstock to work from, not to mention likely being shock-sensitive. Such a system, while likely useful for behind-the-lines supply, would be bulky, weighty, and processor-intensive, and thus not likely suited well for active battlefield deployment.
Well, now that all of that is out of the way, I feel I should inform you that I am greatly enjoying this conversation!
Yours in appreciation,
Mika Kyubi
Kitsune-at-Large
nothing as nice as a good talk, no matter what the topic is :P
Accoustics and DEW:
While it is true that the sound of an explosive propellant can not be effectively masked for futuristic detection systems (even if you use sound dampeners for example)
The noise for energy weapons much harder to locate, since like a lightning they produce their sound mainly by overheating the air they travel through and that explosively expands.
So the sound is produced at a large array of points and is also overlapping. Without proper triangulation it would be very hard to pinpoint the orgin.
As for the DEW you suggested i think this is only applicable if the eviroment is very dirty and there is lots of particles in the air. Otherwise the path of the weapon will hardly be visible, and having equipment that constantly scans for energy weapon dews is not feasonable for most situation i think, because its a reactionary detection system.
For low sight enviroments solid slug weapons would be for example preferred.
As an example the renegade assault rifle you can see in the newer pic of the armor by iPoke uses a magnetic rail to launch directed explosive slugs at sub sound speed, thus effectively negating muzzle fire and sound triangulation.
The range is of course limited but for the urban dogfigthing its designed for a very practical approach.
ECM:
It is true that EMCs are basically a bonfire when it comes to seeing them, but it also overshadows the signatures of all nearby troops.
Also the ECM doesn´t have to deployed on the armor suit but for example on a heavy support unit, like a heavy MAX. that engages the enemy head on, while the suit with its holo field activated is able to flank the enemy unnoticed.
As for the thugs with guns comment i find it very funny ^^
This suit is in no way designed to be a stealthy assasin or anything, its a heavy combat auxilliary.
The stealth system is only implemented to give it the upper edge in certain situations.
For missions that need stealth others would be deployed.
About ammo replication:
The same gravity fields that are used for the jump/jetpack are also employed to serve as a dampening field for the replication units.
They are also not as fragile as one might think:
Deployed on a rhizome suspended in a liquid they already have a good stability.
Accoustics and DEW:
While it is true that the sound of an explosive propellant can not be effectively masked for futuristic detection systems (even if you use sound dampeners for example)
The noise for energy weapons much harder to locate, since like a lightning they produce their sound mainly by overheating the air they travel through and that explosively expands.
So the sound is produced at a large array of points and is also overlapping. Without proper triangulation it would be very hard to pinpoint the orgin.
As for the DEW you suggested i think this is only applicable if the eviroment is very dirty and there is lots of particles in the air. Otherwise the path of the weapon will hardly be visible, and having equipment that constantly scans for energy weapon dews is not feasonable for most situation i think, because its a reactionary detection system.
For low sight enviroments solid slug weapons would be for example preferred.
As an example the renegade assault rifle you can see in the newer pic of the armor by iPoke uses a magnetic rail to launch directed explosive slugs at sub sound speed, thus effectively negating muzzle fire and sound triangulation.
The range is of course limited but for the urban dogfigthing its designed for a very practical approach.
ECM:
It is true that EMCs are basically a bonfire when it comes to seeing them, but it also overshadows the signatures of all nearby troops.
Also the ECM doesn´t have to deployed on the armor suit but for example on a heavy support unit, like a heavy MAX. that engages the enemy head on, while the suit with its holo field activated is able to flank the enemy unnoticed.
As for the thugs with guns comment i find it very funny ^^
This suit is in no way designed to be a stealthy assasin or anything, its a heavy combat auxilliary.
The stealth system is only implemented to give it the upper edge in certain situations.
For missions that need stealth others would be deployed.
About ammo replication:
The same gravity fields that are used for the jump/jetpack are also employed to serve as a dampening field for the replication units.
They are also not as fragile as one might think:
Deployed on a rhizome suspended in a liquid they already have a good stability.
Well written, and acceptable on pretty much all points but one: DEW lines.
The effect of DEW lines results from directed energy weapons punching a vacuum through an atmospheric medium (usually through shock-heating). Much like a lightning bolt, when the beam passes, it excites the air molecules as they are displaced. When the beam is no longer there, these molecules "dump" their energy, emitting it as light, while the vacuum tunnel collapses, producing a VERY audible thunder-like "CRACK!" down the beam path.
I agree that under these circumstances acoustic targeting is effectively negated, but visual targeting comes into play.
By the way, my compliments to iPoke on his low-velocity subsonic coilgun system. It is quite innovative, and well thought out. I am certain that there are ways to diffuse or dampen the resulting EM spike.
I appreciate your well-thought-out replies. They are intriguing, thought-provoking, and intelligent. I am pleased to no end to be having this little military-technology debate. ^_^
Yours,
Mika
The effect of DEW lines results from directed energy weapons punching a vacuum through an atmospheric medium (usually through shock-heating). Much like a lightning bolt, when the beam passes, it excites the air molecules as they are displaced. When the beam is no longer there, these molecules "dump" their energy, emitting it as light, while the vacuum tunnel collapses, producing a VERY audible thunder-like "CRACK!" down the beam path.
I agree that under these circumstances acoustic targeting is effectively negated, but visual targeting comes into play.
By the way, my compliments to iPoke on his low-velocity subsonic coilgun system. It is quite innovative, and well thought out. I am certain that there are ways to diffuse or dampen the resulting EM spike.
I appreciate your well-thought-out replies. They are intriguing, thought-provoking, and intelligent. I am pleased to no end to be having this little military-technology debate. ^_^
Yours,
Mika
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