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US Military's Microwave Weapon Can Fry North Korean Missile Electronics

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Re: US Military's Microwave Weapon Can Fry North Korean Missile Electronics

#61

Post by Someone »

mchahn wrote: post #60
Someone wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I expect it must be put in something that can bring it close to its target to be effective. O(n²) power drop off for electromagnetic radiation is tough to beat at a distance of kilometers.

O(n²) power drop off only applies to a spherical emission. Focused power drops of much more slowly.

You can get a way smaller constant, but the area of a cone still drops off as O(n²) with distance. You would need collimination to beat that, and even then, there’s atmospheric dispersion.

Re: US Military's Microwave Weapon Can Fry North Korean Missile Electronics

#62

Post by blackflame7000 »

Someone wrote: post #61
mchahn wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

O(n²) power drop off only applies to a spherical emission. Focused power drops of much more slowly.

You can get a way smaller constant, but the area of a cone still drops off as O(n²) with distance. You would need collimination to beat that, and even then, there’s atmospheric dispersion.

I suspect the key is definitely in its focusing mechanism that allows for high powered bursts to be relayed to its target with relative efficiency.

Re: US Military's Microwave Weapon Can Fry North Korean Missile Electronics

#64

Post by littlestymaar »

clort wrote: post #25
klodolph wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not arguing about the propaganda point, but there are legitimate reasons for not shooting down test missiles. If you always shoot down test missiles, then NK just has to keep firing test missiles until they build one that doesn't get shot down.

or until they run out of money

Money for what ?

As long as they don't rely on foreign supply for their missiles[1], they can manufacture them forever without having to pay anything to anybody.

[1]: it may sound like a bold hypothesis, but I doubt anyone would ship missile materials to North Korea. China could, of course, but that would be a bit risky diplomatically.

Re: US Military's Microwave Weapon Can Fry North Korean Missile Electronics

#65

Post by dragonwriter »

littlestymaar wrote: post #64
clort wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

or until they run out of money

Money for what ? As long as they don't rely on foreign supply for their missiles[1], they can manufacture them forever without having to pay anything to anybody. [1]: it may sound like a bold hypothesis, but I doubt anyone would ship missile materials to North Korea. China could, of course, but that would be a bit risky diplomatically.

> it may sound like a bold hypothesis, but I doubt anyone would ship missile materials to North Korea.

Historically, Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan cooperated on nuclear and missile tech, though I think that was engineering rather than parts.

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