Power Down: Senate Zaps Navy’s Superlaser, Railgun

[Canuhearmenow]

[QUOTE=Chrille;30564250]I don't think anyone of Facepunch complains about the money that goes into DARPA. All the threads about them have been quite enthusiastic.[/QUOTE]

But the fact of the matter is that the budget of DARPA is tied to the Defense budget, and if that budget is cut they're sure as hell going to choose to cut the more "out there" research projects then trimming the size of the military.

[meppers]

first the nasa moon program and now this.

i swear the government hates scientific progress

[Ogopogo]

If they are trying to save money in the long run, they should continue with it not cancel the project. The projected railgun is to be able to do large amounts of damage for a fraction of the cost if using missiles.

[slogsdon]

[QUOTE=Ogopogo;30575270]If they are trying to save money in the long run, they should continue with it not cancel the project. The projected railgun is to be able to do large amounts of damage for a fraction of the cost if using missiles.[/QUOTE]

should we really be basing our budget around the extremely unlikely chance we'll be going to war with a sizable naval force any time soon?

[Del91]

[QUOTE=meppers;30574701]first the nasa moon program and now this.

i swear the government hates scientific progress[/QUOTE]

Why get smarter, when thar be brownies to kill?

[TheDecryptor]

[QUOTE=slogsdon;30575324]should we really be basing our budget around the extremely unlikely chance we'll be going to war with a sizable naval force any time soon?[/QUOTE]

It's not just ship to ship combat, a navy battleship with a couple of railguns could bombard a target on shore easily (Even over the horizon with the correct targeting parameters)

Edit: And said battleship is now safer to serve on, as it contains no explosive weapons on board, negating the issue of an accidental detonation.

[koekje4life V2]

Aw man railguns are fucking amazing.