Smog is China’s top defence against US laser weapons, says PLA Navy admiral

[mota bhai 2,675]

China’s thick smog is the best defence against US laser weaponry, a People’s Liberation Army Navy admiral has said in a state television interview, after the American navy recently announced it was preparing to deploy its first laser weapon aboard a transport ship.

PLA Navy Rear Admiral Zhang Zhaozhong, a military expert at the National Defence University, said on CCTV’s Haixia Liang’an (Cross-Straits) current affairs programme late last week that the lasers were “most afraid of smog”.

“Under conditions where there is no smog, a laser weapon can fire [at a range of] 10 kilometres. When there’s smog, it’s only one kilometre. What’s the point of making this kind of weapon?” he said.

Echoing previous claims by state media that China’s crippling air pollution has an upside when it comes to military defence, Zhang explained that smog was made up of tiny metallic particulates – and the higher their PM number (a measurement of the particles’ diameter in micrometres), the harder it would be for lasers to penetrate.

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The rear admiral told the Beijing Youth Daily that his statements were taken out of context.

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“I just stated a laser weapon’s weakness,” Zhang said. “I don’t support smog.”

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1434040/smog-chinas-top-defence-against-us-laser-weapons-says-pla-navy-admiral

[deleted-05292014 331]

When I hear certain people of certain political affiliations say they want to get rid of the EPA I just ask them to visit Beijing. It's horrible. Last time I was there my weather app said it was a bright sunny afternoon, but there was so much pollution in the air it looked foggy. You couldn't even see the sun. No wonder everyone there wears surgical masks.

[mota bhai 2,675]

China'a a free market paradise. No one owes you sunlight. If you want sunlight, get your own!

[dalegg 143]

I want a laser gun! I didn't even know we had them yet.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Your laser gun is no match for my particulate pollution.