President Trump Unveils The Existence Of A 'Super Duper Missile' Which Goes 17 Times Faster Than Current Weapons

Daily Mail: Donald Trump unveils Space Force flag and claims U.S. is working on a 'super duper missile' which goes 17 times faster than current weapons

* 'It's a very special moment,' Trump said
* He staged a ceremony in the Oval Office while the flag was unveiled
* Trump touted a 'super duper missile'
* 'I heard the other night 17 times faster than what they have right now'
* Earlier he touted Operation Warp Speed to rush vaccine development as U.S. deaths from coronavirus continued to climb
* Russia is developing a hypersonic weapon that can breach even the world's most advanced missile defense systems

President Donald Trump touted a 'super duper' missile as he staged a 'very special moment' and unveiled the new flag of the Space Force Friday.

Trump, who regularly claims he inherited a hollow military, staged the ceremony for the new military service he pushed for in the Oval Office – and claimed the U.S. was ahead of Russia and China.

'It's a very special moment,' Trump said.

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WNU Editor: The Pentagon has confirmed the existence of this missile .... Pentagon confirms development of hypersonic weapons after Trump talks up ‘super duper missiles’ (FOX News).

More News On President Trump Unveiling The Existence Of A 'Super Duper Missile' Which Goes 17 Times Faster Than Current Weapons

At Space Force Flag Unveiling, President Trump Touts U.S. Development of 'Super-Duper Missile' -- Time/AP
Trump says the US is building a 'super-duper missile' that is much faster than anything it has now -- Business Insider
Trump touts 'super-duper' high-speed missile -- FOX News
Donald Trump Introduces 'Super-Duper Missile' at Unveiling of Space Force's Flag -- Newsweek
Trump Unveils Space Force Flag And ‘Super-Duper Missile’ Plan -- Bloomberg
Trump, Unveiling Space Force Flag, Touts What He Calls New 'Super-Duper Missile' -- NPR
‘But will it fly at ludicrous speed?’ Trump teases mysterious ‘SUPER DUPER MISSILE’ at Space Force flag unveiling ceremony -- RT

The Russians Have Developed A Weapon For Visual And Optical Wafare

Sputnik: WATCH Russian Ship Test Weapon That Renders Enemy Targeting Systems Useless

The weapon system, developed by the Russian company Rostec, was recently spotted on the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov by British media as it approached a Royal Air Force base. The Times described the weapon as being able to make opposing soldiers vomit, but its effective range is much greater.

The Russian TV channel Zvezda has published a video featuring the test "firing" of a Russian weapon for visual and optical warfare, the 5P-42 "Philin" (Russian for "eagle owl"). The system can be used at night and essentially renders enemy targeting systems, night vision equipment and scopes within a 5 km range useless by "blinding" them. It's also capable of blinding and disorienting enemy personnel within a range of 2 kilometres. The system has already been deployed on several Russian ships.

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WNU Editor: The Sputnik news report says this visual/optical weapon is effective up to 5 kilometres.

The U.S. Navy Is Developing A New Smart 'Mini Missile' To Take Out Swarms Of Enemy Drones And Boats

This graphic reveals how the Exacto bullet tracks its target and changes directions. The sniper additionally has to take into account wind, distance and even the curvature of the Earth, before pulling the trigger. DARPA has not released precise details of how its bullet moves in mid-air, but this is one way in which the technology could work.

Daily Mail: US Navy developing smart 'mini missiles' that can be fired from warships to take out swarms of enemy drones

* Will be designed to destroy approaching 'swarms' of drones and boats
* Ammunition will be able to change its course mid flight

The US Navy has revealed plans for a radical new smart 'mini missile' that can be fired from warships to take out swarms of enemy drones and boats.

Known as the Multi Azimuth Defense Fast Intercept Round Engagement System (MAD-FIRES) program, it will develop a 'medium-caliber guided projectile'.

DARPA says this will 'combine the guidance, precision, and accuracy of missiles with the speed, rapid-fire capability, and large ammunition capacity of medium-caliber bullets like 20-to-40-caliber ammunition designed to destroy lightly armored vehicles, aircraft, and personnel.'

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WNU Editor: Iran's Navy has been doing exercises where multiple boats attack a target. My guess is that this new weapon system is being developed with them in mind.

The US Air Force Wants To 'Plasma Bomb The Skies'

The US Air Force has granted contracts to three research teams, with hopes that CubeSats could carry massive amounts of ionized gas to the ionosphere to create radio-reflecting plasma. An artist's impression of a CubeSat is pictured above

Geek: US Air Force wants to plasma bomb the skies to improve radio reception

The US Air Force is working on a plan to plasma bomb the sky. No, they have not been co-opted by a super villain bent on world domination. This plan has legitimate, perhaps even noble goals. If the USAF can pull it off. Radio signals will be able to travel farther through the atmosphere.

Radio operators have long known that radio signals travel better at night. They can travel hundreds of miles further to be picked up by equipment that would never hear a peep during the day. Now we understand the mechanism that makes this possible. It’s all down to charged particles (i.e. plasma) in the ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere that starts about 30 miles up. You’re probably most familiar with the ionosphere from auroras like the northern lights.

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Update: The US Air Force reveals radical plan to 'bomb the sky' to improve radio reception (Daily Mail)

WNU Editor: I am a radio person .... but I am dubious on the merits of this tech.

Russia's Military Is Investing Big In An Army Of Super Smelling Cyborg RATS

Cyborg: The rats are having microchips implanted in their heads, allowing scientists to monitor brain waves

Daily Mail: Vladimir Putin unleashes his new secret weapon in the fight against ISIS - an army of super smelling RATS

* Scientists in Rostov-on-Don are hoping to harness rats' 'raptor neurons'
* Rats have microchips implanted so researchers can monitor brain waves
* Meanwhile, physiologists train rodents to recognise explosives and drugs
* Rats are already used to detect land mines in other parts of the world

Vladimir Putin is preparing to unleash his latest weapon in the war against terror: an army of cyborg rats.

Russian scientists are hoping to combine the rats and their amazing noses with the latest technology, allowing them to sniff out explosives or drugs in places which are impregnable to all but the very small.

If they are successful, the rodents will be able to alert their handlers to the dangerous or illegal material before they themselves have even had time to register it.

WNU Editor: This sounds like a trailer for a bad sci-fi/horror movie.

Update: Groan. It looks like I am behind the curve when it comes to Hollywood .... Willard (2003 Trailer).

Too Many New Weapons, Too Little Money

Four Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons fly in formation behind an F-22 Raptor for more than 6,000 spectators during the June 24, 2008, air show at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The "Soaring into Solstice" air show provided an opportunity for the local community to visit and get a close-up view and demonstration of the capabilities of the Air Force's aircraft. U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Eric T. Sheler

War-Winning Concepts Lack Financial Support -- Aviation Week

There are many breakthrough war-fighting technologies available to U.S. Air Force planners, but perhaps only 10-20% of these projects have any chance of being funded for the foreseeable future.

Among the concepts are weaponry—both kinetic and directed energy—to intercept ballistic missiles as they launch and to attack low-orbiting space objects. There also are warheads that destroy, befuddle and misinform enemy electronics. They come in various sizes to fit 1-ton bomb casings, cruise missiles and long–range air-to-air missiles. Cybersurveillance devices and weapons are already being introduced into the service's arsenal; but as their sophistication goes up, so does the price. The brakes are already being applied to all of these and other advanced concepts. Even so, the Air Force had the largest cybersecurity budget of any of the services at $622 million for fiscal 2011, or 34% of the Pentagon's $1.82 billion total for that year.

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My Comment: In this era of budget restraint, the Air Force will be lucky if they get 10% - 20% of their new programs funded.

Why Russia Will Be The First To Use The Pain Ray

Airmen from the 820th Security Forces Group are currently evaluating the Active Denial System at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.. Airman 1st Class Gina Chiaverotti/US Army

Why Russia Will Be The First To Use The Pain Ray: Analysis -- Popular Mechanics

The U.S. has had its Active Denial "pain ray" system in development for more than a decade but has refrained from using it for political reasons. Now Russia is building its own and may not have such qualms.

Russia's Defense Ministry is testing a new nonlethal ray gun for use on protesters, which looks like a close facsimile of the American system in development. The difference could be that the Russians are willing to use it.

Eleven years ago, the Pentagon unveiled the Active Denial System, a nonlethal crowd-control device firing a beam of 94-Ghz microwaves (known as millimeter waves) developed by Raytheon. The beam has a much shorter wavelength than a microwave oven and very different effects. The waves penetrate only about 1/64 of an inch, and anyone caught in the beam experiences painful but harmless heating of their skin. It causes what developers call a repel effect; nobody can stand it more than a few seconds before having to get out of the beam.

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My Comment: It usually comes down to political will. The U.S. government does not have it .... the Russian government has .... hence they will use this weapon system (and others) if they have to.

Testing 5 New Weapons In The Field

(Click on Image to Enlarge)
The M320, a 40mm grenade launcher, is the replacement to all M203 series of grenade launchers on M16 Rifles and M4 Carbines. An interoperable system, it attaches under the barrel of the rifle or carbine and can convert to a stand-alone weapon. PEO Soldier

Deployed Soldiers Field Test Weapons, Gear -- Army Times

Soldiers downrange like the 5 weapons tested but disapproved of the combat trousers and boots.

oldiers are giving two thumbs-up to five key weapon systems tested over the summer in Afghanistan — two that protect lives and three designed to take them.

Soldiers also gave combat trousers and boots a thumbs-down, and fixes are on the way.

The reports were given directly to the two generals responsible for equipping soldiers: Lt. Gen. Robert Lennox, deputy chief of staff for Army programs (G-8), and Lt. Gen. Bill Phillips, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology). The duo recently returned from Afghanistan’s Regional Command–East.

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My Comment: Soldiers giving combat trousers and boots a thumbs-down is not a surprise .... everyone has different tastes.

Upgrades Are Giving Soldiers Better And Deadlier Weapons

Photo: The Heat Adaptive Modular Rifle, or HAMR, is a light machine gun produced by FNH USA that looks like an assault rifle. The magazine-fed FN HAMR is capable of firing from a closed bolt in both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes, and automatically transitions into open-bolt operation in semi-automatic or fully automatic before reaching cook-off temperature for a chambered cartridge.FNH USA

Upgrades Give Soldiers Better, Deadlier Weapons -- Army Times

Improvements in the works for three key weapon systems will help ensure soldiers never enter a fair fight.

Leading the way is the combat-proved Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, or CROWS. The Army’s plan is simple: More and better.

CROWS has been a huge hit among combatants. It’s not hard to understand why. It gets operators out of the turret and under the armor, and turns area weapons into precision engagement weapons. Target identification and day/night surveillance capabilities are light years beyond what small-level leaders have had in the past.

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My Comment: The long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have not only changed the way the U.S. military functions .... but it has also upgraded their older weapon systems. This .... I suspect .... will continue for the foreseeable future.

The Push Is On To Approve A New Version Of The Avenger Air Defense System

Photo: Avenger was famously used to cast a protective cordon around Washington after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and helped allay public anxieties over 9/11.

Boeing Pushes For New Multi-Weapon Avenger System -- UPI

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Boeing is pushing for an innovative -- and deadly -- multi-weapon variant of its Avenger system that is set to give a new edge to fighters in modern warfare conditions.

Already shown to procurement officials and military professionals at a U.S. Army show in Washington, the Adaptive Force Protection Solutions System is a key highlight of weaponry that is likely to be deployed in modern warfare conditions.

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My Comment: I will be surprised if this project is approved now. Everyone is focused on cutting the budget .... having a new program in the mix .... hmmmm .... not for now.

For some more information on the existing Avenger Air Defense System, go here.

New Army Weapon Aims to Fry Gadgets, People

From The Danger Room:

Electronics-frying "e-bombs" have been discussed for decades — but rarely, if ever, deployed. Knocking out computers and communications gear with electromagnetic radiation is nice, but commanders prefer the proven method: blowing stuff up.

Now the U.S. Army is developing technology to do both at the same time. Hybrid munitions would give warheads the added punch of an e-bomb that can "destroy and disable electronic systems and their operators" all in one blast. The key is a magnet that blows up and spontaneously demagnetizes, releasing energy as a pulse of power. Oh, and antennas made of fire. My story in the current Defense Technology International explains.

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My Comment: This type of weapon has been discussed in the blogosphere for the past year .... but it is only now that we are getting more detail information.

Pentagon Plans Blimp To Spy From New Heights

From The L.A. Times:

The giant dirigible would use radar to closely and constantly monitor activity on the ground from 65,000 feet.

Reporting from Washington -- The Pentagon said Thursday that it intends to spend $400 million to develop a giant dirigible that will float 65,000 feet above the Earth for 10 years, providing unblinking and intricate radar surveillance of the vehicles, planes and even people below.

"It is absolutely revolutionary," Werner J.A. Dahm, chief scientist for the Air Force, said of the proposed unmanned airship -- describing it as a cross between a satellite and a spy plane.

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My Comment: I always love reading stories on how old technology is upgraded with modern tech .... and it becomes something that the original inventors could only dream about.

Bug-Eyed Warriors: Troops Will See Out Of The Corner Of Their Eyes With Revolutionary New Night Sight

(Click On Above Image To Enlarge)

From The Daily Mail:

British frontline troops will soon be able to see better in the dark using a revolutionary night sight modelled on the eyes of a tiny parasite.

The digital device, worn over one eye and attached to a helmet, will allow soldiers to spot an enemy out of the corner of their eyes without even moving their head.

The device has been developed from studies into the 50 raspberry-like eyes of the Xenos peckii insect – a tiny bug that lives inside the bodies of paper wasps.

The insect’s visual system – which is not found in any other living creature – creates an image from a mosaic of pixels similar to those on a digital camera, to give a wide field of vision.

And the new kit, which has nine lenses, will provide troops with 60 degrees of peripheral vision, twice the level of their current night-vision goggles.

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My Comment: These little improvements and innovations will completely change the battlefield. NATO clearly owns the night in Afghanistan.

Video: Army Destroys RPG In Mid-Flight

From the Danger Room:

The "Quick Kill" active protection system being developed for the Army's Future Combat Systems is supposed to be the Next Big Thing in vehicle protection: it will be able to shoot down anti-tank rounds in flight. The Raytheon-designed system has seen its share of developmental hiccups (and, courtesy of NBC, some bad publicity), but the Army recently released a video that shows a Quick Kill interceptor smacking down an incoming RPG round.

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Army To Part With 'Weapon Of Choice?'

United States Army Soldier with M4 Carbine Photo from (Image Reference Database)

From The Danger Room:

After pressure from Congress -- and a scathing cover story in Army Times -- it looks as if the Army may finally part ways with the M4 carbine -- or at least consider the alternatives.

Last week, the service held an invitation-only expo in Arlington, Va., for small arms manufacturers. The event, according to an Army news release, allowed top brass "to get a look at what technology is available from weapons manufacturers in the way of small arms -- in particular, for something that could be a follow-on to the M4 carbine."

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Carbine View -- Picture Of The Day

From Operation Iraqi Freedom:

A Soldier peers through an M-4 carbine scope while providing overwatch security in Tal Afar, Iraq, Nov. 13, 2008. The Army recently received final delivery of 473,000 carbine scopes. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob N Bailey.

The Military's New Miniature Arsenal

From Popular Mechanics, 4 new high-tech weapons pack small shells, but a big boom.

From an Iron Man-style guided missile to a Humvee-mounted pulverizer, this smarter and more deadly crop of tiny military systems brings some finesse to force.

Read more ...

My Comment: More and more fire power.