Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: Hongjian

http://www.atimes.com/article/icebreaker-technology-linked-to-chinas-future-nuclear-carrier/

Interesting article on a recent open tender for a nuclear icebreaker for China. Obviously, such an endeavor would be useful to test nuclear propulsion for China's CVN program.

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ORIGINAL: ultradave

Sorry I'm not following this part.

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ORIGINAL: jtoatoktoe

Having a missile that mimics ICBM/SLBM is a good way to get nuked on accident. There is a reason the U.S.has stayed away from non nuclear ordinance.

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Hyten suggested the U.S. is powerless against hypersonic weapon threats and has to rely on deterrence against these so-called weapons.

What is that deterrence you might ask?

“So our response would be our deterrent force which would be the triad and the nuclear capabilities that we have to respond to such a threat,” Hyten warned.

In other words, if Russia or China launches a hypersonic missile attack on the U.S., the Pentagon will respond with nuclear war.

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ORIGINAL: Dysta

Handheld laser has turned from pointer pen to lethal weapon, like toy quadcopters converted to bombers. We're (almost) living in future already:

http://m.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2153310/china-brings-star-wars-life-laser-ak-47-could-set-fire

quote:

China’s first AIP submarine unit breaks records
(People's Daily Online) 17:32, July 04, 2018
http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/0704/c90000-9477744.html
China’s first submarine unit using air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology recently broke a number of records set by the Chinese navy, Science and Technology Daily recently reported.

Records such as the longest sailing distance, maximum submergence depth and sinking target ships under boundary conditions were all broken by the unit.

Military commentator Zhang Haixiong disclosed that submarines equipped with AIP technology prolong operation duration underwater to about two or three weeks, indicating the increasing stealth of the submarines.

The time a conventionally powered submarine can spend underwater ranges from 10 to 100 hours, as they need to surface regularly to charge. However, submarines can be charged underwater if they are equipped with the AIP system.

Zhang noted that AIP submarines, with higher combat effectiveness, are second only to nuclear submarines, adding that although AIP submarines are more expensive right now, in the future they will become the conventional option.