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#51

Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...

Last post by acctingman - June 02, 2024, 11:03:08 AM

NOT a political question at ALL!! 

I read this post a lot and follow the news a bit on the Ukraine/Russian war and I have a question for you all (who know WAY more than I do).

In your opinion on a scale of 1 (no way in hell) to 5 (a for sure YES) how likely do you see the Ukraine/Russian war spilling over to a global conflict?

Thanks

#52

Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...

Last post by Jarhead0331 - June 02, 2024, 08:53:56 AM

Here:

#53

Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...

Last post by Jarhead0331 - June 02, 2024, 07:31:47 AM

From this Sunday's issue of the Merge...

High Power Microwave

Tech advancements and the proliferation of drone capabilities are challenging the air domain in ways that are so disruptive that they have inverted the cost imposition and are challenging the entire notion that the US military (and its Allies) can protect forces on the ground from attack via the air littorals.
The heart of the issue is that defending against the rapid cost and capability improvements of drones is often relegated to using exquisite weapons that were never designed to counter this threat. Or worse, having no defenses at all and hoping that a military position won't get attacked.

The result: the extremely high cost of playing defense is simply no match for the extremely low cost of playing offense. To this point, the Navy expended $1 billion in weapons shooting down threats in the Middle East in the past 6 months.

Changing the Game

High-tech doesn't win, and low-tech doesn't lose—it's all about the 'right-tech.'
Right-tech is about creating and exploiting an asymmetric capability advantage—building a new strength and applying it directly to the opposition's weakest point.
Enter high-power microwave (HPM) weapons. These are directed-energy weapons that emit concentrated bursts of electromagnetic energy and neutralize drones by disrupting their electronic systems.

While HPM has been in various stages of R&D for generations, the combination of key technological leaps is finally bringing this capability to the field. Epirus is a venture-backed defense tech startup leading the way with its flagship HPM product called Leonidas.

On the front end, Leonidas leverages a Gallium Nitride-based radar antenna array, the same tech that all next-gen AESA radars are moving to—including the new Patriot radar and the new F-35 radar.
On the back end, it uses solid-state electronics similar to the EA-18G Growler's new jammer.

It's combined with software to create and adjust waveforms, like a radar jammer that gets rapid updates with new techniques. They also utilize neural networks (a type of AI) to analyze patterns and rapidly optimize the system's performance.

The Result

Epirus' Leonidas puts up a shield of energy that disables pretty much anything that flies into it.

Unlike laser systems or kinetic methods, which attack one target at a time, HPM can attack multiple drones simultaneously—a unique capability that's particularly valuable against swarming drone attacks that typically overwhelm traditional defenses. And it does it for just a few dollars per shot.

Fun Fact: HPMs like Leonidas don't fry electronics. They simply disrupt the flow of signals on the analog side of electronics, typically resulting in motors turning off and systems rebooting. This makes HPMs an ideal option for non-lethal drone defense around critical infrastructure, sporting events, etc.

Speeding to Field

The Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) has led the way with these next-gen HPMs. Epirus recently delivered 4 prototypes to the Army for testing and also completed developmental testing.

These systems are part of the Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) program, specifically the IFPC-HPM layer. Almost immediately after Epirus delivered the fourth system, the Army revealed Leonidas HPMs were being deployed ASAP to the Middle East.

The results of this prototype deployment will determine the Army's next steps, but Epirus isn't waiting. They have preemptively invested in a 100,000 sq ft factory and inventory to scale production.

What Now

While the Army is leading the way, the Navy is also interested in using Leonidas to protect ships from drone boats. They will be zapping boats off the coast of California in a naval exercise this summer.

There is so much more to unpack in the podcast. We dive deep into how HPMs work, the operational environment, and how to integrate HPMs into layered defenses—plus some myth-busting about copper tape.

#54

Current Events / Re: Turkey's Nation Building M...

Last post by Uberhaus - June 01, 2024, 07:04:04 PM

Interesting partnership for the rebuilding of Somalia.

Also, interesting is that three doors down will be a Russian naval base in Sudan https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/africa-file-may-31-2024-russian-red-sea-logistics-center-sudan and in between an American base in Djibouti. 

#55

Current Events / Turkey's Nation Building Missi...

Last post by Gusington - June 01, 2024, 03:19:27 PM

I had no idea...the Turks have even opened a military academy there:

#56

Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...

Last post by Uberhaus - June 01, 2024, 03:07:40 PM

I know that the US also uses 105mm towed guns, but have no idea how towed guns are faring in Ukraine or how many the Ukrainians might have.  (I imagine towed artillery fares much worse than mobile artillery in hot environments due to the lack of "shoot and scoot" survivability, but I can also imagine myself winning the lottery next week.)

From over a year ago:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/craighooper/2023/05/14/russia-hits-immobile-and-predictable-m-777-krab-and-m-109-howitzers-hard/?sh=44d7467a6f19

#57

Tech Talk / Re: New Rig...part trois

Last post by Con - June 01, 2024, 02:31:04 PM

Yeah I parted it out with various configurators (microcity is the best)
The fully specced out professional rigs with all the optimization and clean cable management are only costing $300 more than a DIY
Until you come to the water cooled custom loops- then the price difference becomes $1500 or greater

#58

Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...

Last post by Con - June 01, 2024, 02:15:42 PM

You should be very disturbed
Removing a human from the decision loop leads to many troubling issues especially as the ramifications are very troubling as defense companies are incentivized to make their product the deadliest

#59

Music, TV, Movies / Re: Godzilla-1.0, new Toho fil...

Last post by ArizonaTank - June 01, 2024, 01:49:57 PM

Godzilla Minus One is now on Neflix! 

Stream it now!!!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/netflix-surprises-fans-by-releasing-godzilla-minus-one-overnight/ar-BB1nrXNG?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=ENTPSP&cvid=c026b436f92e4625817d8c3645ee5bfe&ei=15

There was some concern it was stuck in IP rights hell in the US...but I guess the lawyers got over it...

#60

Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...

Last post by JasonPratt - June 01, 2024, 01:40:17 PM

I keep hearing Brad Fidel's Terminator theme gearing up in my head when I read about hunter-killer drones...

Not that I disagree with the expectation. Just disturbing.