space-x is also a defence contractor

[TOS]

space-x working on hypersonic missile defence system

the russians have developed hypersonic missiles, which fly way too fast to be stopped by existing missile defence systems (which were leaky as hell anyway), so they're going to try developing technology to stop those things

if stopping regular missiles was tough, hoo boy, this one's a tall order

[ukimalefu]

SpaceX and Florida-based defense firm L3Harris Technologies are competing and collaborating on the project

competing and collaborating?

I think SpaceX would just launch whatever this L3Harris company develops.

Maybe, maybe, and this is my wild guess, if the launch of the hypersonic missile could be detected very early, SpaceX could contribute a tracking/targeting system?

SpaceX has launched military satellites before.

Sci-fi geek question: where are the electromagnetic pulse weapons? and where are the laser guns?

[DEyncourt]

[snip]
Sci-fi geek question: where are the electromagnetic pulse weapons? and where are the laser guns?

The problem with EMP weapons is that if they are effective then they wiil also be indiscriminate in direction. This is a particular problem for the US military because they are so highly dependent upon electronic gear which would be fried by EMPs.

Laser "guns" always had the problem of delivering enough destructive power. Above a small range of power, a laser would react with just air molecules which would prevent the laser beam from traveling much more than feet from the gun. Plus such guns lack that satisfying recoil action. AND you have to make your own PEW! PEW! noises.

[TOS]

Sci-fi geek question: where are the electromagnetic pulse weapons? and where are the laser guns?

an emp is a side-effect of a nuclear blast, so b definition employing an emp means you're in a nuclear war ... much smaller non-nuclear emps are possible but aren't very useful because, as i recall, only affect a very small area

laser guns are very much in the pipeline and are likely to be installed in the next generation of warplanes and warships

[jkahless]

While an EMP is a nuclear blast side effect, you can also create one by compressing a coil generating an EM field by blowing it up very carefully.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosive ... _generator