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submitted 5 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world
  • The UK said it test-fired a laser beam weapon in a "groundbreaking" trial.
  • The Ministry of Defence said it could neutralize targets for just $0.12 a shot.
  • Countries are racing to develop weapons that can combat drones and missiles.
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[-] Omega_Man@lemmy.world 71 points 5 months ago

The kill to cost-savings ratio on this is amazing. We can kill so many for so little!

[-] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 26 points 5 months ago

Leaving so much room for activities!

[-] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 15 points 5 months ago

This will be used against drones and missiles. Does make me wonder what the cost per bullet is for militaries though

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 19 points 5 months ago

I know, I know, Quora, but this seems properly researched.

$0.23 for a round of 5.56, $0.76 for a round of 7.62. Ish.

Keep in mind, too, that lasers fire in about as straight a line as you can hope for, while bullets do not. It's going to take a lot more bullets fired to neutralize a target than laser "rounds" fired.

[-] peopleproblems@lemmy.world 8 points 5 months ago

And laser rounds have a velocity of the speed of light, so it's pretty hard to miss if you have a perfect sight on the target

[-] evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

I was thinking about potential for inaccuracy due to refraction from thermal inversion layers or other temperature anomalies, but then I realized that the refraction would equally affect the optics, provided that the optics remain on target throughout the firing.

[-] peopleproblems@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

If I was designing a laser weapons system, I would probably include a targeting laser that would be of the same wavelength, and use that to automatically correct any alignment. A targeting laser, or series of lasers would require extremely tiny amounts of power compared to firing the laser weapon.

[-] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

In that case, when WW3 hits I guess I’ll use my toilet tank lid for armor

[-] 11111one11111@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Yeah... those figures might be outdated. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't 5.56 basically the same as a .223? If so Cabellas has them in a price range of $.60-$2.20/pc. Not that the price difference is what I'm correcting. What I intended to point out was that just because you can get ammo for $.23 doesn't mean your actual cost is guna be $.23/pc. In my experience with cheap ammo you're guna have at least 1 jammed per magazine on your best days. Unlike most things, you get what you pay for with ammo. I have 3 types of ammo for my AR. 1 cheap bulk box for making it rain lead at the range. 1 mid ranged box for actual use shooting coyotes, beavers and Coons. And the last ammo type are closer to the $2.20/pc price for when there is ever a scenario where I need to send 2 bullets through the same bullet hole from 500yds out. Lol half kidding but for real the bullet to bullet consistency for weight and concentricity of the $2.20 priced ammo to the .60 priced ammo is clear as day.

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 7 points 5 months ago

Read the link. Those were rough prices for the military, and the poster admits that the prices are a little out of date. He's not referring to what you'd pay at a sporting goods store.

[-] 11111one11111@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Did you even read my post or did you stop at the 5th word lol.

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 5 points 5 months ago

I read the whole thing about how much ammo costs at retail for an individual consumer.

[-] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

I can guarantee you're not coming close to the bulk buy per-item discount the military gets

[-] Deme@sopuli.xyz 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Cruise missiles are usually shot down with interceptor missiles, which are a lot more expensive.

[-] pound_heap@lemm.ee 6 points 5 months ago

For a less than you pay for a cup of coffee, you can evaporate 10 or even 50 people!

this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2024
191 points (100.0% liked)

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