# Where are the super secret weapons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 30, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998 "2014-09-30T19:06:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/61 "2014-10-07T22:08:34Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I have a good friend who used to work as a technical writer on the HARM missile and Paveway LGB programs when TI/Raytheon Defense was still in the DFW area. He said that the funny thing was that the unclassified stuff was the most spectacular and interesting stuff, and that the “Top Secret” documents were usually the driest, most boring things he ever had the displeasure of having to read. Really mundane tech specs, procedures, etc… not whiz-bang stuff at all. I found the same thing, and I think I understand why a little. It doesn’t matter so much if an enemy knows you have a “gee-whiz-bang-whozhucallit”, because they will the first time it is used (or the first time its existence leaks). And in fact, knowing you have it, but NOT knowing its capabilities is also a deterrent to an enemy. The important stuff to an enemy is: under what circumstances can it operate (heat? cold? wet? dry?) How fast can it go? How often can 1 be launched / fired / etc.? What kind of targeting system does it use? _What sort of systems / situations can defeat the targeting system?_ What weaknesses does it have? These are the types of things that get classified, and rightly in my mind. J. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/62 "2014-10-07T22:49:08Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > They wouldn’t be secret weapons if we knew where they were. Best post yet … I bet China knows lol ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/63 "2014-10-08T01:03:05Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Common heavy isotopes for directed kinetic energy weapons usually have 82 protons, 92 proton weapons are pretty uncommon. Apparently fragments of 92 have been found inside Iraqi tanks. And trucks. Buildings… And those rascals said they didn’t have any secret weapons. Ha! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/64 "2014-10-08T19:04:00Z")
To the poster above saying powered armor not a chance with today’s technology.Not even in 100 years from now. Only if carbon nanotubes become reality than armor like in movies and games like Halo would become reality. [![](https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980w/public/2013/10/12/955fd6e59a2add18d83ce59d9c973ac1.jpg?itok=ez1Q8m6V) ](https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980w/public/2013/10/12/955fd6e59a2add18d83ce59d9c973ac1.jpg?itok=ez1Q8m6V) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Future_Soldier_2030.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Future_Soldier_2030.jpg) [http://khongthe.com/wallpapers/videogames/ghost-recon-future-soldier-218293.jpg](http://khongthe.com/wallpapers/videogames/ghost-recon-future-soldier-218293.jpg) To than today’s technology bullets would go through this plastic. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/65 "2014-10-08T23:20:26Z")
> [@sweat209](#): > > To the poster above saying powered armor not a chance with today’s technology. Not even in 100 years from now. > > Only if carbon nanotubes become reality than armor like in movies and games like Halo would become reality. > Till then, today’s technology bullets would go through this plastic. Agreed but only if we are talking about warfare between equal adversaries which really hasn’t happened since the Second World War. Every major conflict since then which has involved developed nations, has been asynchronous. High tech on one side, low tech on the other. And the “other” still manage wins in the long term. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/66 "2014-10-08T23:24:33Z")
The technology advance: correct me if I’m wrong but I understand the A10 Warthog (much beloved by troops) is being discontinued because a single soldier with a modern RPG can shoot them down. Seems a bit fantastic? ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/67 "2014-10-09T03:53:31Z")
A single soldier with an RPG can shoot down an F-22, just gotta get off a lucky shot when the plane is low enough. It’s hardly a knock against an attack plane to point out that it can be taken out by anti-tank weapons. Of course, the hard part is landing that one hit. Such unlikely kills are called “Golden BBs”, IIRC. Some planes are more vulnerable than others, like the P-51 Mustang and A-36 Apache, both of which could be shot down by a single bullet if it struck a coolant line (liquid cooled engines: if the coolant system is compromised, the engine stops being cooled and starts seizing up). ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/68 "2014-10-09T05:37:14Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > There was a battle in Iraq in 2004 IIRC where a group of Scottish troops decided on a bayonet charge after they were running low on ammo. Turns out that a bunch of Scotsmen in body armor running at you with bayonets affixed is enough to take the fight out of anyone. I wasnt aware that modern infantry weapons still had bayonet mounts. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/69 "2014-10-09T06:36:56Z")
> [@sweat209](#): > > I’m not sure what you are trying to say.I think a lot public things future armor will look like that. > > But plastic does not stop a bullet. > [@sweat209](#): > > And if you want better armor not the plastic you see in movies and video games > [@sweat209](#): > > But plastic does not stop bullets. > > That is why we don’t use them are never will. > [@sweat209](#): > > To than today’s technology bullets would go through this plastic. What’s your beef with plastic not stopping bullets, decrying the plastic armor you see in movies and video games, linking to actual Army demonstration and prototypes as examples of this, and then saying without irony the armor depicted in halo, a video game, is the armor of the future? I mean sure, the idea of plastic stopping a bullet sounds silly, about as silly as using ceramic to stop armor piercing shells. Only as it turns out [its not so silly after all](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chobham_armour). > [@](#): > > Although the construction details of the Chobham Common armour remain a secret, it has been described as being composed of ceramic tiles encased within a metal matrix and bonded to a backing plate and several elastic layers. I think its a safe assumption that if you think plastic can’t stop bullets that it certainly can’t stop armor piercing shells either, but you’d be [mistaken there as well](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_armour). > [@](#): > > Composite armour is a type of vehicle armour consisting of layers of different material such as metals, plastics, ceramics or air. > > The first widespread use of a composite armour appears to have been on the Soviet T-64. It used an armour known as Combination K, which apparently is glass-reinforced plastic sandwiched between inner and outer steel layers. Through a mechanism called thixotropy, the resin changes to a fluid under constant pressure, allowing the armour to be moulded into curved shapes. ---
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/70 "2014-10-09T23:05:32Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > What’s your beef with plastic not stopping bullets, decrying the plastic armor you see in movies and video games, linking to actual Army demonstration and prototypes as examples of this, and then saying without irony the armor depicted in halo, a video game, is the armor of the future? > > I mean sure, the idea of plastic stopping a bullet sounds silly, about as silly as using ceramic to stop armor piercing shells. Only as it turns out [its not so silly after all](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chobham_armour).I think its a safe assumption that if you think plastic can’t stop bullets that it certainly can’t stop armor piercing shells either, but you’d be [mistaken there as well](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_armour). I never said army was demonstrating this armor has prototype or hopping in future we will have some thing like that. Because at preset chemistry does not allow light weight armor but strong enough to stop a bullet. I said the public in light of movies and video games think in the future the army may look like that.But again at preset chemistry does not allow light weight armor but strong enough to stop a bullet. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/71 "2014-10-10T03:35:48Z")
> [@sweat209](#): > > I never said army was demonstrating this armor has prototype or hopping in future we will have some thing like that. Because at preset chemistry does not allow light weight armor but strong enough to stop a bullet. > > I said the public in light of movies and video games think in the future the army may look like that.But again at preset chemistry does not allow light weight armor but strong enough to stop a bullet. Lightweight armor? Depends on your definition of lightweight. An Interceptor vest with four ESAPI plates and various add-ons to protect the neck, groin, shoulders, etc. seems kind of heavy, but it still clocks in at somewhere around 30-35 pounds, which isn’t really all that much by itself (it’s adding that to the rest of a soldier’s weapons, ammo, equipment, and assorted gear where that 30 pounds begins to sound like a big pain in the back) ---
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2014, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/72 "2014-10-10T09:13:13Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Lightweight armor? Depends on your definition of lightweight. An Interceptor vest with four ESAPI plates and various add-ons to protect the neck, groin, shoulders, etc. seems kind of heavy, but it still clocks in at somewhere around 30-35 pounds, which isn’t really all that much by itself (it’s adding that to the rest of a soldier’s weapons, ammo, equipment, and assorted gear where that 30 pounds begins to sound like a big pain in the back) That is what I mean.In some of your posts above shoulders adding some add-ons and plates and hating it.Adding a bodysuit at preset technology level all over the body like in the movies and video games would be so bulky and uncomfortable , that shoulders would not be able to run ,move fast and walking not enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/73 "2014-10-11T00:29:05Z")
> [@sweat209](#): > > That is what I mean.In some of your posts above shoulders adding some add-ons and plates and hating it.Adding a bodysuit at preset technology level all over the body like in the movies and video games would be so bulky and uncomfortable , that shoulders would not be able to run ,move fast and walking not enjoyable. Which is probably why many sci-fi settings handwave it by saying it’s Powered Armor. The armor itself does the heavy lifting, the soldier just drives the thing. It is worth noting that in at least one of the sci-fi settings (Halo), the only people who can wear the full-body armor suits are heavily enhanced super soldiers (we’re talking gene therapy, drugs, bonding stuff to the skeletal system to make it tougher, the whole nine yards). The regular soldiers, no matter how badass they might be, just aren’t physically capable of wearing and controlling the armor. Other sci-fi settings, such as Starship Troopers or Honor Harrington, make the armor suits very large bulky affairs due to having to fit in the armor, control systems, power supply, life support, etc. that such a suit would require. ---
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/74 "2014-10-11T01:23:01Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Which is probably why many sci-fi settings handwave it by saying it’s Powered Armor. The armor itself does the heavy lifting, the soldier just drives the thing. > > It is worth noting that in at least one of the sci-fi settings (Halo), the only people who can wear the full-body armor suits are heavily enhanced super soldiers (we’re talking gene therapy, drugs, bonding stuff to the skeletal system to make it tougher, the whole nine yards). The regular soldiers, no matter how badass they might be, just aren’t physically capable of wearing and controlling the armor. > > Other sci-fi settings, such as Starship Troopers or Honor Harrington, make the armor suits very large bulky affairs due to having to fit in the armor, control systems, power supply, life support, etc. that such a suit would require. I was reading about spider silk how they are trying to harness it and say it is so lightweight and stong that the highrise buildings can reach the clouds , space elevator , long bridge and strong armor may be possible. So if they pull it of with this spider silk thing they are trying to grow than may be full body armor may be possible. ---
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998/75 "2014-10-16T19:40:38Z")
Future of some semi big guns like in doom may be possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1mA-Kk6FH4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGd2XZcgCr0 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-super-secret-weapons/699998.md?page=3)