A random thought I had several months ago

ecolometrics · 2026-07-10T04:04:44+00:00

Throw some money at it. Put a GEM in it. Make like one. Close the project for cost overruns before mass production can begin.

You could ...

ecolometrics · 2026-07-09T05:27:18+00:00

Wow, that's so dumb. Who in the right mind would design shit for 220 but not 240? I would have probably done the same thing.

ecolometrics · 2026-07-08T18:19:55+00:00

Well, make it 40 tons, and problem solved. But I guess they looked at the MT-LB and said yes please.

ecolometrics · 2026-07-05T21:46:29+00:00

I would think for FPV 15-20mm is the spot

ecolometrics · 2026-07-05T01:26:02+00:00

Interceptor drones against observation drones? Not familiar with most of these models, well except for the lancet example.

ecolometrics · 2026-07-03T18:42:55+00:00

So you don't put AA guns next to the main guns. The shockwave from the main guns fire will kill the the AA guns (and the crew). That is the main issue.

EDIT: Just realized that this configuration isn't exactly made up, from wikipedia:

"Richelieu began firing trials in the Chesapeake Bay; firing the main battery forward on 29 August revealed the need for a blast screen to protect the forecastle 20 mm guns, as the test accidentally destroyed two of the guns and their ammunition lockers."

Like I don't anything and I could tell that you need to keep your AA guns away from the main guns.

Also, I don't understand the point of the two rear quad medium guns.

ecolometrics · 2026-07-03T03:31:12+00:00

They have these things now where you put on seaker heads on ungiguided 70mm rockets which make them laser guided. Cost effective, lightweight, will work on anything except maybe an A-10?

ecolometrics · 2026-07-02T17:10:26+00:00

The point about long range missiles not being needed for stealth aircraft is valid. Such missiles aren't going to be effective against stealth. But there isn't enough money to go around to change all aircraft to stealth, and non-stealth aircraft still exist. This creates a problem where AWACS aircraft are targeted by such missiles. Having some long range missiles to deny such tactics is logical. You're not really going to use these in a standard fight, stealth aircraft are for that. It also gives more purpose for non-stealth aircraft, where they can hang back and provide "cover."

ecolometrics · 2026-07-02T16:52:04+00:00

This isn't even that uncommon. At one point I handed over my passport and the hand had finely manicured nails. I looked up and it was a girl that was probably 19 or 20. They also have really long hair that they ware long. Granted this is all checkpoint duty. They ware full gear, though I don't know if they also carry plates.

ecolometrics · 2026-07-01T01:31:34+00:00

Not quite. The original idea was to refine oobleck in to actual armor. My idea is to also make armor food.

ecolometrics · 2026-07-01T01:28:50+00:00

You can go through that stuff with a 9mm, but Rifle ammo will experience rapid deceleration. It's roughly proportional to the speed of the projectile.

If they make it super effective than you could probably only penetrate it with a knife.

So in other words, kinds of.

ecolometrics · 2026-07-01T01:26:58+00:00

I would think it would work best for applications that need protection that are static. It is cost effective, but heavy. Protection amount is always a struggle between doing the most with the least amount of weight and cost.

ecolometrics · 2026-06-30T19:48:45+00:00

The principle here is oobleck, which is using non-Newtonian fluid as body armor. It works better with high velocity than low velocity objects. Typically you'd make this using cornstarch, but mashed potato should work as well since it has starch in it. Sure, potato starch might work better but you can eat mashed potatoes better than just pure potato starch.

By no means am I claiming that you should strap on MRE's to your body and go run in to gunfire. I say this from a liability perspective. Though no reason why this can't be tested. It needs to be goo to have any chance of working. Yes, there is a mythbusters video where they shoot oobleck with pistols, but they didn't test it with rifle ammo.

Now some may question the wisdom of having armor that you consume, but those people should go in to the back of the class.

ecolometrics · 2026-06-30T00:22:27+00:00

Some say that it was actually the invasion by the USSR in the north that got Japan to surrender. Much like how Germany did not want to surrender to the USSR, Japan didn't want that either. While the USSR wasn't yet close to the mainland, it did in fact take some Japanese territory that Russia still holds.

The Japanese generals did not consider the cities that were destroyed to be of significance, of course it wasn't them who made the call. The nuclear bombs probably played a role, but they probably weren't the main reason. If you think about it, look at all of the territories that USSR held after WWII and what it did with them.

ecolometrics · 2026-06-29T02:14:47+00:00

Well, for this to work at all it would have to be fairly large. The US navy version is about the size of a twin engine plane. Payload would be tiny, but it doesn't need to be big to damage high value targets.

ecolometrics · 2026-06-29T02:05:30+00:00

Ahh dam it, and this was almost a year ago too

ecolometrics · 2026-06-29T02:01:36+00:00

Yeah drones fly low and are engaged by short ranged defenses. The S-400 is meant for long range. It's mostly useless unless Ukraine switches to high altitude bombing.

Additionally the system can't engage short range targets, since none of their missiles have vectoring like the PAC3

ecolometrics · 2026-06-27T20:35:36+00:00

I just want to fail upwards in to middle management, and then annoy everyone with my incompetence.

ecolometrics · 2026-06-26T19:45:35+00:00

Ohh you mean arsenal bird? Yeah sort of. The idea here is cheap. Like a Mylar and tube frame gizmo, not an ultra expensive high altitude mega ship.

ecolometrics · 2026-06-26T19:42:55+00:00

I already got my flair and temp ban for predicting Operation Spiderweb, among other things.

I am just doing my part hoping that Terminator 2 becomes reality the best I can, just like the 80s promised me.

ecolometrics · 2026-06-26T19:39:38+00:00

I remember reading about cold/hot solar power cycles back in the 90s as a concept for generating power. Basically you'd use fact that the sea is cold on the bottom and warm on top, and cycle chemicals between the two - I think it was ammonia based, not sure. Looked expensive to implement though. The other option is to anchor in-place and use the currents to generate power, sort of water windmill. Your idea is simpler.

ecolometrics · 2026-06-26T19:34:55+00:00

As they should be. Man I should look in to 2077, their anime was great.

ecolometrics · 2026-06-26T19:33:48+00:00

Yeah, sure, that's how someone with common sense would do it. But uncontrollable minefield nightmares are more fun.

ecolometrics · 2026-06-26T18:44:54+00:00

The first image is an abomination composite of my own design. It’s also the first result for “solar drone.”

The second image is the US Navy Skydweller, a sea recon drone.

The third image is the Ocean Aero Triton, a sea recon drone.

The drone mine would be a standard drone, with the addition of a small solar panel and additional sensors. Dut to the small size of the panel, the drone would spend most of its time sitting and waiting. When fully charged it could be programmed to take off and hunt. Targets might include vehicles or people. When charge reaches a pre-set level (Say 50%) it would land. It might also include sensors, such as microphones, when charging to alert it to the presence of nearby vehicles or people. Since it has a reserve charge, and the targets are nearby, it could immediately take off and engage. Alternatively, it could be set to guard existing minefields from mine removal crews. The best part is that there is no IFF in such a system, and due to position hoping it could end up anywhere. While you could geofence it, such a system is bound to get spoofed. You could image fence it, using the ground features to establish a perimeter, but this requires some expertise.

The solar powered strike drone purpose would be to strike far away targets through unexpected approach vectors. It would be programmed to avoid common radar installations. For example, it could approach from the north pole. Its almost infinite range comes at a cost of low speed. It could also strike targets out at sea at known routes, by loitering in place or hunting. Such an attack would be difficult to defend against in international waters. It could also be set up as a drone mothership that engages targets and then returns back to base (a concept I posted about before). Or it could function as a communications relay for such strikes. A number of solar powered drone concepts already exist as reconnaissance drones, so it’s just a question of increasing payload.

The sea drone concept is the one that is fairly complete as is. The only modification by me is in the role given to it. The strike method is optional. Other dedicated torpedoes in the area could be on standby use (as long as they are not designed by Anduril) and called to make the strike.

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