Tango01 | 29 Feb 2020 9:14 p.m. PST |
…. Navy aircraft in the Philippine Sea. "A Chinese navy destroyer shot a weapons-grade laser at a P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft in a recent move that U.S. Pacific Fleet dubbed "unsafe and unprofessional" in a statement Thursday. The incident happened Feb. 17 in the Philippine Sea about 380 miles west of Guam while the Poseidon crew was "operating in international airspace in accordance with international rules and regulations," according to the statement…" Main page link Amicalement Armand |
Thresher01 | 29 Feb 2020 9:52 p.m. PST |
That's when you need the laser-guided anti-ship missile under the wing of the patrol aircraft. |
USAFpilot | 29 Feb 2020 10:00 p.m. PST |
"May you live in interesting times." -ancient Chinese curse |
ochoin | 01 Mar 2020 1:00 a.m. PST |
Well done the US navy for not responding aggressively to what was, after all, a non-harmful action by the Chinese. I do not doubt that a diplomatic response would make it clear to the Chinese that such actions may eventually involve retaliation. Any fool can start a war but a bit of wisdom can avoid it. |
pzivh43 | 01 Mar 2020 10:42 a.m. PST |
Not sure what is meant by "weapons grade laser", but some lasers can blind a person. China and Russia has been getting away with this for too long. |
USAFpilot | 01 Mar 2020 11:07 a.m. PST |
The article says the laser was "unseen", but detected by aircraft sensors. So the Chinese now know, if they didn't know already, that the sensors on the P-8 can detect their laser. Overall an intelligence win for China. |
Col Durnford | 01 Mar 2020 11:12 a.m. PST |
To bad the Reds are foolish enough to attempt to trigger a war. Maybe it was to take the heat off Corona virus . I'm sure the decision to attack was made at the highest level. |
HMS Exeter | 01 Mar 2020 11:22 a.m. PST |
Maybe we could do a drone drop of 70-80 skunks on the nearest "Chinese" "island" just to sort of return the gesture. |
ochoin | 01 Mar 2020 12:10 p.m. PST |
I'm sure the decision to attack was made at the highest level. I'm sure you're correct. And that in the US somewhere there are gripes* of old guys howling for a war they won't have to fight. However, the point is the professional American military involved know what the boundaries are. * collective noun |
15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 01 Mar 2020 1:04 p.m. PST |
Why not play a game of tit-for-tat "laser tag" with the Chinese and light up their aircraft with laser? |
Tango01 | 01 Mar 2020 3:23 p.m. PST |
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gamertom | 01 Mar 2020 6:12 p.m. PST |
"Unseen" indicates either an infra-red or ultraviolet laser (i.e., outside the visible spectrum). "Weapons grade" most likely refers to a higher power laser, but I seriously doubt it is an actual weapon. My supposition (wild guess) is someone on the Chinese ship was practicing anti-air targeting. |
Thresher01 | 01 Mar 2020 8:03 p.m. PST |
Yep, these lasers are designed to blind pilots and air crew, so are not just minor annoyances. Supposedly, pilots and others are issued with glasses, and/or visors to help protect against that, assuming they have them on at the time, but I'm not sure they'll be effective against the more powerful lasers. Those can even damage and aircraft, if not outright shooting them down. Some countries' vessels have had them since at least the 1980s. Reportedly, some British escort vessels had them back during the Falklands War in 1982. They are sometimes listed as "laser dazzlers", which are meant to blind, injure, or distract enemy pilots and others. Given the very low-level attacks with little warning, it doesn't seem as if they were very effective vs. the jockeying pilots of Argentina, who mainly used wave-top level approaches against British ships. No doubt, the lasers would/will be more effective vs. aircraft flying on more steady courses, and at hight altitudes. |
ochoin | 02 Mar 2020 5:22 a.m. PST |
Yep, these lasers are designed to blind pilots and air crew, so are not just minor annoyances. Yes, I read the article. However, the point was no US Navy aircraft was damaged or shot down, no pilot incapacitated. Your implication that deadly force should match an illegal yet still minor "attack" is clearly overkill, unwise & dangerous. I'll assume you were being mordant. |
Tango01 | 02 Mar 2020 12:03 p.m. PST |
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JMcCarroll | 02 Mar 2020 12:09 p.m. PST |
" Maybe we could do a drone drop of 70-80 skunks on the nearest "Chinese" "island" just to sort of return the gesture." … and make sure liberal media covers the slaughter. |
15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 04 Mar 2020 8:10 a.m. PST |
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