ELECTROMAGNETIC RAILGUN

Railgun are one of the potential game changing weapon of the future war.Railgun use electromagnetic force to launch high velocity projectiles.Instead of use of chemical explosive such as gun powder it uses electromagnetic force to propel projectile to hyper sonic speed potentially into a range of several hundred miles.The railgun uses a pair of parallel conductors, or rails, along which a sliding armature is accelerated by the electromagnetic effects of a current that flows down one rail, into the armature and then back along the other rail. Railgun relying on the projectile's high speed to inflict damage.

The most commonly used way of projection in military, by means of gunpowder, has many disadvantages including additional weight, volatility and limited velocity. This fact enhanced scientists to look for more efficient way to launch projectiles. The electromagnetic rail gun has appeared as a promising propellant with a velocity of 16,000 m/s, about 12 times that of gunpowder, and a range of about 400 km. These features are so attractive to the extent that the concept of launching projectiles with electric energy was introduced more than 90 years ago.

"A rail gun is a purely electrical gun that accelerates a conductive projectile along a pair of metal rails". It contains two parallel metal rails with a sliding conductive armature.The acceleration of the projectile, which is driven be the armature, is achieved by a power supply acting mainly as a current source and providing a huge current.

DESIGN

 PROBLEMS WITH RAIL GUNS

In theory, rail guns are the perfect solution for short- and long-range firepower. In reality, they present several serious problems:

Power supply

 The power supply that use in rail gun must provide large current.Generating the power necessary to accelerate rail gun projectiles is a real challenge.Here capacitor is use for store the charge. This Capacitors must store electric charge until a sufficiently large current can be accumulated. While capacitors can be small for some applications, the capacitors found in rail guns are many cubic meters in size.

Resistive heating

 When an electric current passes through a conductor, it meets resistance in the conductive material -- in this case, the rails. The current excites the rail's molecules, causing them to heat. In rail guns, this effect results in intense heat.

 Cooling techniques should be used effectively to prevent intense heating. In addition, materials used to build rail guns have to be chosen such that it gives optimum resistance to heating.

APPLICATION

This devastating weapon currently in developing phase. This weapon attain attention of the several countries. It have number of practical application in the military field as this weapon will primarily use by the military.

Railguns are being examined for use as anti-aircraft weapons to intercept air threats, particularly anti-ship cruise missiles, in addition to land bombardment. A railgun projectile can reach several times the speed of sound faster than a missile; because of this, it can hit a target, such as a cruise missile, much faster and farther away from the ship.The speed, cost, and numerical advantages of railgun systems may allow them to replace several different systems in the current layered defense approach.

US first successfully develop this  railgun. Recently india successfully tested their own railgun. India`s DRDO successfully tested this but the developement is still going on. Russia, China ,Turkey also developing this railgun to strengthen their army. 

VIRTUAL TOUCH SCREEN

In today’s modern society it is difficult to imagine a world without the touch screen. It can be found in cell phones,computers, tablets and there is also research in flexible and curved touch screens.In the case of using keyboard and mouse ,the physical contact with the devices is not necessary  or important . But that is the most important  thing in the case of virtual  touch-screen. The scenes that we see in movies ,that working on computer-screne that floats on air and we think how amazing in works in them. 

Our dreams are now not just a dream now. It is future and much closer than future.

A Taiwanese technology company has developed the ultimate in hands-free technology: a virtual, see-through touch screen or keyboard display that, when “touched” in mid-air by the user’s finger, transmits that signal directly to the computer or mobile device.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute calls its new product “iAT”—short for “i-air touch” technology. By using a pair of special glasses, users can type on a virtual ”floating” keypad, keyboard, mouse, or touch panel just as they would do with physical keys, maximizing flexibility,  comfort, and convenience. Because the user is the only one who can see the keyboard in virtual space, privacy is guaranteed. This project is completely based on sonar respond .
The inventors have developed a device that tracks the location and detailed trajectory of radio frequency sources (e.g. RFIDs) moving in 3D space. This device can transform any plane or surface into a virtual touch screen, whereby users can interact with a desired computing device by gesturing or writing commands in the air. This interface can be used to interact with a remote screen, to send commands to a cellphone without touching it, or to communicate with small devices (e.g., sensors) that do not have space for a keyboard.

Then you must ask me what is the difference between holographic screen and virtual screen . Both are look same .
A holographic screen is a two dimensional display technology that uses coated glass media for the projection surface of a video projector. "Holographic" refers not to a stereoscopic effect (for that, see Holographic display), but to the coating that bundles light using formed microlenses. The lens design and attributes match the holographic area. The lenses may appear similar to the fresnel lenses used in overhead projectors. The resulting effect is that of a free-space display, because the image carrier appears very transparent. Here we found that holographic screen need a transparent background but it is not in the case of virtual screen float in mid air.

USAGE:

The Kinect sensor, commonly used in many virtual touch screen applications

Currently, virtual touch screens (VTS) are used primarily for entertainment and research purposes. A popular virtual touch screen system is the Kinect system made commercially available by Microsoft. The Kinect system is primarily used for consumer entertainment such as playing games and using the menus found on the Xbox system.However, in recent years the Kinect has been used for research projects in the field of robotics and 3-D interactions outside of the field of games such as browsing the web, and medical practices.

There is a potential for the technology where the 3D visualization and physical interaction with the objects is necessary, such as teaching students introductory calculus.

In medical practices, virtual touch interaction has been applied to allow users to view and manipulate digital data such as 3D images used in medical scans, allowing medical staff to interact with the data without any physical contact, thus avoiding the need for re-sterilization.

ADVANTAGES

• Touch screen enables people to use computers with out any training.

• This technology is simple and user friendly

• This is becoming more popular because of its ease of use , proven reliability, expended                        functionality and decreasing cost.

• Touch screen virtually eliminates operator errors, because users selecting from clearly defined            menu.

• Touch screen provides fast access to any and all type of digital media.

• It ensures that no space is wasted as the input device is completely integrated into monitor.

• Touch screen provided sufficient security.

• Text can be displayed on variety of languages depending upon user needs.

• The touch screen interface can be updated with simple software changes.

DISADVANATGES

• Althogh user friendly, touch screen can not be used to enter large amount of data

• This technology has not found in real world applications because system designers have not                carefully considered how the system will function.

• Another failure of the industry has been not getting fast enough processing behind the buttons

• A touch screen system will cost about two or three times of the amount of an existing keyboard          display.

• Touch screen and monitors together are expensive ranging from two and half times the price of            a standard computer. 

STEALTH FIGHTER JET

The stealth fighters are the innovative designed fighter who will play major role in future conflict. This fighter is the major part of the airforce  of a country. Many countries of the world tries to developed this fighter and very few among them got this technology while others still tries to developed this fighter in order to strengthened their respective air force.

This kind of  aircraft are designed to avoid detection using a variety of technologies that reduce reflection/emission of radar, infrared, visible light, radio-frequency spectrum, and audio, collectively known as stealth technology

In actual practice there are no aircraft is totally invisible to radar .After the development of the 4th generation fighter aircraft  various country developed their electronics  warfare and avionics in order to make their fighter difficult to detect by enemy. Stealth fighter are typically more expensive to develop and manufacture also this fighter jet is difficult to design in order to minimize the radar cross section also it has many limitation in the field of aerodynamics. But in the modern era in the race of technology countries spend billions of dollar in order to make better fighter than the conventional fighter they have.  stealth aircraft make it more difficult for conventional radar to detect or track the aircraft effectively, increasing the odds of an aircraft successfully avoiding detection by enemy radar and/or avoiding being successfully targeted by radar guided weapons. Stealth is the combination of passive low observable (LO) features and active emitters such as low-probability-of-intercept radars, radios and laser designators. These are usually combined with active measures such as carefully planning all mission maneuvers in order to minimize the aircraft's radar cross section, since common actions such as hard turns or opening bomb bay doors can more than double an otherwise stealthy aircraft's radar return. It is accomplished by using a complex design philosophy to reduce the ability of an opponent's sensors to detect, track, or attack the stealth aircraft.This philosophy also takes into account the heat, sound, and other emissions of the aircraft as these can also be used to locate it.

LIST OF STEALTH AIRCRAFT

In service

United States       F-35 Lightning II – Lockheed Martin / BAE Systems / Northrop Grumman

United States       B-2 Spirit – Northrop Grumman

United States       F-22 Raptor – Lockheed Martin / Boeing

ChinaChengdu    J-20 – Chengdu Aircraft Corporation

Retired

United States       F-117 Nighthawk – Lockheed Martin

Under development

RussiaSukhoi       Su-57 – Sukhoi

IndiaRussia          FGFA – Sukhoi / HAL

China                   Shenyang    J-31 – Shenyang Aircraft Corporation

India                    AMCA – ADA / HAL

Turkey                 TAI TFX – Turkish Aerospace Industries

Iran                      HESA Shafaq – HESA / IAMI

Iran                      IAIO Qaher-313 – Under development

Sweden               Flygsystem 2020 – Saab

Russia                 Mikoyan LMFS – Mikoyan

Russia                 PAK DA – Tupolev

United States      B-21 Raider – Northrop Grumman

China                  Xian H-20 - Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation

South KoreaIndonesia     KAI KF-X - Korea Aerospace Industries / Indonesian Aerospace

Cancelled

Argentina                 FMA SAIA 90 – Multirole fighter

Germany                  MBB Lampyridae – West German stealth fighter prototype

New Zealand            IML Addax – New Zealand multi role fighter prototype

United Kingdom      BAe P.1214 Harrier 2

United States            A-12 Avenger II – McDonnell-Douglas / General Dynamics

United States            Boeing X-32 – Boeing prototype

United States            YF-23 Black Widow II – Northrop / McDonnell Douglas prototype

United States            RAH-66 Comanche – Boeing Sikorsky

Technology demonstrators

United Kingdom       BAE Replica – BAE Systems

United States             YF-22 – Developed into F22 Raptor

United States             YF-23 Black Widow II – Northrop / McDonnell Douglas prototype

United States             Boeing Bird of Prey – Boeing

United States             Have Blue – Lockheed

Japan                         Mitsubishi X-2 – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

United States             Northrop Tacit Blue – Northrop

Russia                        MiG 1.44 – Russian 5th generation fighter prototype

United States             X-35 – JSF winning contender developed into F-35 Lightning II

United States             X-32 – JSF losing contender

Accidental or secondary function reduced cross section designs

United Kingdom        Avro Vulcan – British strategic bomber with delta wing and buried engines that                                     gave an unplanned low radar cross-section

United States              B-1B Lancer – RCS to about 1.0 m2 

FranceDassault           Rafale – RCS to about 0.20–0.75 m2

United Kingdom         De Havilland Mosquito – Injection molded wood reduced radar detection

United KingdomGermanyItalySpain     Eurofighter Typhoon – RCS to about 0.25–0.75 m2

China                          Chengdu J-10B – Incorporates radar absorbent material

China                          Shenyang J-11 – B variants incorporates radar absorbent materials

China                          Shenyang J-15 – Incorporates radar absorbent material

China                          Shenyang J-16 – Incorporates radar absorbent material

Pakistan                      JF-17 Thunder – Incorporates DSI and Block II variants include radar                                                   absorbent material

United States              F-16C/D and E/F Fighting Falcon – from Block 30 has got reduced RCS to                                           about 1.2m2

United States              F/A-18E/F Super Hornet – The F/A-18E/F's radar cross section was reduced                                         greatly from some aspects, mainly the front and rear. RCS to about 20 dB                                             lower as a F18 C/D

United States              Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird – Skunkworks Blackbirds were first production                                           RCS aircraft; 1962 with CIA A-12, then later with SR-71, YF-12 and M-21                                           Blackbird series of aircraft

United States              McDonnell XP-67 – Blended wing surface reduced radar detection

Russia                         Mikoyan MiG-29K – Due to special coatings Mig-29K radar reflecting surface                                      is 4–5 times smaller than of basic MiG-29. RCS to about 0.60–0.75 m2 

Russia                         Sukhoi  Su-47 – Russian technology demonstrator

Russia                         Tupolev Tu-160M – upgraded bomber with RCS reduction features.

Nazi Germany            Messerschmitt Me 163B – rocket-powered point defence interceptor aircraft.

Poland                        PZL-230 Skorpion

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia      Novi Avion – Yugoslav prototype, designed to have a                                                                             features to lower its RADAR cross section

India                          HAL Tejas – Incorporates high degree of composites and radar absorbent                                              material and a Y-duct inlet which shields the engine compressor face from                                            probing radar waves.

via:wikipedia

Modernizing To Deter and Defeat Emerging Threats

The F-22 is the world’s most dominant fighter, but potential adversaries continue to develop capabilities intended to challenge the ability of U.S. and allied air forces to gain and maintain air superiority. With that in mind, Lockheed Martin is dedicated to working with the U.S. Air Force on a robust F-22 combat enhancement program to bolster the Raptor’s asymmetric advantage over current and potential adversaries. The capabilities of the F-22 Raptor remain essential to deter and defeat threats and ensure regional and global security well into the future.

Aircraft Specifications

Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 ft / 18.90 m

Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16.67 ft / 5.08 m

Wingspan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44.5 ft / 13.56 m

Wing Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 840 ft2 / 78.04 m2

Horizontal Tail Span. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 ft / 8.84 m

Engine Thrust Class. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,000 lb / 15,876 kg

Via:Lockheed martin official website

Us developed this type fighter jet consisting of stealt technology . The F-22 Raptor is one among them .US army deployed this fighter in their air force but the production of this fighter is stopped now because of it`s cost per unit which is about 150million USD . This raptor is the most expensive fighter among the world .

CHINA claims that j-20 fighter jet which in the service of People`s liberation Army (PLA) also have this technology . The cost per unit of this fighter is about 110 million USD.

RUSSIA also testing their 5th generation fighter SU-57 which cost per unit almost 54 million USD  

HAL AMCA, India's fifth generation stealth fighter

India is independently developing a twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable stealth multirole fighter, called the HAL Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). It is being developed and designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and will be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. DRDO defines AMCA as a "fifth-generation-plus platform". Unofficial design work on the AMCA began in 2008, while official work started in 2011 and finished in 2014.The first flight is scheduled to occur in 2023–2024.

Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin

Japan is developing a prototype of a stealth jet fighter called the Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin, previously referred to as the ATD-X. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Japan, seeking to replace its aging fleet of fighter aircraft, began making overtures to the United States on the topic of purchasing F-22 fighters for their own forces.

Concept design of the TAI TFX

In 2011 Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii AŞ (Turkish Aerospace Industries or TAI) initiated a $20 million concept design phase for a fifth-generation air-to-air fighter, TAI TFX. During a State visit of the President of Turkey to Sweden on 13 March 2013, TAI signed an agreement with Sweden's Saab AB to provide design support services to Turkey for the TAI TFX program. TAI has stated that the program will cost $120 billion (with engine development)

Another project of India is the Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), which is a fifth-generation jet fighter being developed together by India and Russia. It is a derivative project of the Sukhoi Su-57 being developed for the Russian Air Force. FGFA was the earlier designation for the Indian version, while the combined project is now called the Perspective Multi-Role Fighter (PMF).The completed FGFA will include a total of 43 improvements over the Su-57, including stealth, supercruise, advanced sensors, networking and combat avionics. however the project is already four years due to multiple issue.

IMAGE CREDIT:wikipedia and lockheed martin official website

FUTURE OF WEAPON SYSTEM

This is the future of weapon system.A directed-energy weapon (DEW) is a ranged weapon system that inflicts damage at a target by emission of highly focused energy.

This new weapon release the elementary particle photons.As the speed of the photon is that of the speed of the light so the narrow beam of focused light that this weapon use is entirely invisible.This narrow beam can hit the target and burn it to a temperature of thousand degree.

   

The Laser Weapon System (LaWS) aboard USS Ponce.
Type Directed-energy weapon
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 2014–present
Used by US Navy
Production history
Designed 2010–14
Manufacturer Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
No. built 1

The US-Israeli Tactical High Energy weapon has been used to shoot down rockets and artillery shells.
IMAGE CREDIT:US NAVY
“It operates in an invisible part of the electromagnetic spectrum so you don’t see the beam, it doesn’t make any sound, it’s completely silent and it’s incredibly effective at what it does,” Lieutenant Cale Hughes, the laser weapons system officer aboard the USS Ponce told CNN.

“I can aim that at any particular spot on a target, and disable and destroy as necessary,” said the commanding officer of the USS Ponce, Captain Christopher Wells. “It reduces collateral damage — I no longer have to worry about rounds that may go beyond the target and potentially hurt or damage things that I don’t want to hurt or damage.”

Lasers are primarily intended for short-range defense (one to five miles) against aircraft, drones, and small boats.  Second-generation laser weapons systems are currently under development intended to take on faster targets such as incoming ballistic missiles.

Unlike a traditional gun, a laser never runs out of bullets given that it has an infinite magazine as long as it is connected to a power source.  Furthermore, in comparison to missile-based defensive systems firing a laser is cheap. “It’s about a dollar a shot,” according to Hughes. The SM-6, the U.S. Navy’s latest missile interceptor designed to engage the most advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, comes in at around $4 million per shot.
Russia, China,India, and the United Kingdom are also developing directed-energy weapons.

 ANATOMY OF A LASER WEAPON SYSTEM

via:lockheed Martin official website

LASER
MAGNIFYING GLASS EFFECT

Heats up a target to the point of break-down or loss of control through a powerful beam of photons

INTEGRATING STRUCTURE
FOR LAND, AIR OR SEA

Contains the system based on where and how it will be used. Will it be in a container?on a ship? sit by itself somwhere remote?

POWER SUPPLY
UNLIMITED BULLETS

Supplies power and removes excess heat so the laser can be deployed again and again

SYSTEM CONTROL
BRAINS OF THE OPERATION

Provides overarching command and control and is responsible for system status as well as the interface within a larger battle management framework

BEAM DIRECTOR & TURRET
360-DEGREE COVERAGE

Positions the laser to permit operation in any direction

BEAM CONTROL
20/20 VISION

Enables accurate aim and targeting through a series of optical lenses, mirrors and software algorithms