Daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird..

Monday, April 26, 2010
Defense TeChNoloGy 5

Nuclear Weapons

The nuclear bomb is the weapon that revolutionized the history of war.
Atomic power is power that is obtained by fusion(joining) or fission(splitting) of two atoms. This fusion or fission creates large amounts of energy which has been utilized for many different purpose, the most first and most significant use of which is the atomic bomb.

The picture above shows how nuclear power is obtained. First a neutron is fired at an atom, splitting it. This produces energy and the split atom gives out neutrons. The energy propels the neutrons towards other atoms. The chain reaction continues and a very large amount of energy builds up.

The history of the atomic bomb started with the German Nazis discovery of the splitting of an uranium atom. Many feared Hitler will create a nuclear bomb after word spread. However, Hitler persecuted Jewish scientists, many of which are extremely clever. This resulted in many scientists seeking asylum in the USA. One example is Albert Einstein. He, abandoning his belief of pacifism, urged then president Franklin Roosevelt to develop their own nuclear bomb. Roosevelt agreed and joined hands with the U.K and Canada to create the nuclear bomb.
This project was code named the Manhatten project. This race to create the first nuclear bomb was won by USA.

(a meeting among scientists working on the Manhatten project)

So far, the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the only places where atomic bombs were dropped intentionally.
Throughout the years following the first nuclear bomb, nuclear technology has improved by leaps and bounds. Nuclear bombs now are 500 times more powerful than that dropped on Nagasaki.
This military development has proved to have advanced too fast and now world leaders are working one abolishing nuclear weapons.

Shh, momma's only gone for the moment - 8:29 PM
___________

Thursday, April 8, 2010
Defense TeChNoloGy 4

I shall be continuing on my defense technology posts from term 1. This blog post shall be about the Phalanx CIWS(Close-In Weapons Systems).

The Phalanx CIWS consists of a radar guided Gatling gun mounted on a swiveling base. The picture above shows how a Phalanx looks like.

It is originally designed as an anti anti-ship missile defense system - that is, to shoot down anti-ship missles - by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Di

vision, now Raytheon.

The Phalanx gun has gone through many evolutions and the newest version can fire up to 4500 rounds per minute, although the ammunition drum can only hold up to 1550 rounds.
It has a FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared Radar) which enables Phalanx to engage low, slow or hovering aircraft and surface craft. Additionally, the FLIR assists the radar in engaging some anti-ship cruise missles, bringing a greater chance of ship survivability.
The latest upgrade also uses a thermal imager and stablilization system that provide surface mode and electro-optic angle track. These allows day/night detection capability.

Shh, momma's only gone for the moment - 3:04 PM
___________