Invisible Tanks, Planes and Armor Could Hit Battlefields in 5 Years

[UnderseaLcpl]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that there is no way that anyone is going to make this happen, let alone the broke-ass British, in 5 years.

The problem with adaptive camoflauge is that it is both heavy and remarkably useless when it comes to absorbing fire. AFVs might be able to mount it in two decades or so, at great cost, but an infantryman wouldn't even be able to carry the power source effectively, nor would he want to. Infantry are terribly difficult to hit under even the best circumstances, which is why we rely on things like thermal imaging, artillery, air strikes, and automatic weapons, any of which would render adaptive camoflauge useless.

I hate to be a pessimist, but this just isn't going to happen.

[Kaye T. Bai]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

I hate to be a pessimist, but this just isn't going to happen.

Maybe it's for the best.

[Hakahura]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that there is no way that anyone is going to make this happen, let alone the broke-ass British, in 5 years.

The problem with adaptive camoflauge is that it is both heavy and remarkably useless when it comes to absorbing fire. AFVs might be able to mount it in two decades or so, at great cost, but an infantryman wouldn't even be able to carry the power source effectively, nor would he want to. Infantry are terribly difficult to hit under even the best circumstances, which is why we rely on things like thermal imaging, artillery, air strikes, and automatic weapons, any of which would render adaptive camoflauge useless.

I hate to be a pessimist, but this just isn't going to happen.

Yes we're broke.

I believe things were even worse for us when we came up with a couple of war winners you might not have heard of....

Radar ?
Colosuss ?

Both pretty far fetched and impossible at the time ?

Innovation does not come out your pocket.

Lots of other things come out your pocket, but that might take us off topic to a dark place best not discussed or thought of.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Hakahura

Yes we're broke.

Yep, but I hope you didn't take offense at my saying so. I enjoy the occasional jibe at Her Majesty's distinguished subjects from time to time. I think it's an American thing.

I believe things were even worse for us when we came up with a couple of war winners you might not have heard of....

Radar ?
Colosuss ?

Both pretty far fetched and impossible at the time ?

I wouldn't even argue the point. I didn't mean to imply that the British aren't innovative or lack resourcefulness, far from it, it's just that the expense of fielding such a technology is beyond their means at present, and of dubious value anyway.

And besides, the British did invent the Americans, and we're forever winning wars for them Okay, I'm sorry, that's the last joke at British expense. I promise.

Innovation does not come out your pocket.

No, but the money to incentivize it generally does, especially when we're talking about a state initiative. I just don't see this as being a wise investiture at the moment for a nation that has much bigger problems. The US is here to defend you, and apparently everyone else, regardless of whether they want it or not, so why not take the time to save on defense expenditures?

Lots of other things come out your pocket, but that might take us off topic to a dark place best not discussed or thought of.

Indeed. I once pulled a piece of lint from my pocket that looked like Sarah Jessica Parker. Well, it didn't look exactly like her, but it bore an uncanny resemblance to a huge, malformed nose. Disturbing, huh?

[Hakahura]

Offense?

None taken at all.

Couldn't resist a chance to state the obvious.


Seriously though it's a promising avenue of research.
No doubt it will have it's limitations and there will be countermeasures that will defeat the teschnology if it comes to fruition.

But if it gives an edge against some oponents some of the time then surely it will be worth while.

Also on the plus side, the UK will surely share this technology with the colonial cousins.

[Gerald]

If the cousins are lucky, they may be having to share the cake,

[Cohaagen]

Originally Posted by Hakahura

Also on the plus side, the UK will surely share this technology with the colonial cousins.

In the tradition of Chobham armour, self-sealing fuel tanks, the Whittle jet engine, plastic explosives, mirror landing sight, the gyro gunsight, GEE, angled flight deck, cavity magnetron, proximity fuse, steam catapult, flexible coupling and rafting for nuclear subs, Frisch-Peierls Memorandum, sub propulsors, etc.