This is the first in a new column on The Great Galactic Space Gimmick called Future Tech Is Now. For today’s article, we’re going to cover something that all sci-fi film and TV watchers undoubtedly know about . . . the use of Space Ship Weapons . . . and talk about how our world is beginning to construct and use these weapons.
Star Trek’s USS Enterprise firing a photon torpedo
- Projectile Weapons
If you watch Star Trek, you’ll no doubt recognize the word “Photon Torpedo”. Basically, they are projectile weapons akin to our modern-day rockets (aerial flight) or marine torpedoes (for submarines or other Navy craft). The difference however is that photon torpedoes have a nuclear weapon-based background, but are based on theoretical anti-matter detonation.
Nuclear sub firing a marine torpedo
Existing torpedoes are those used on Naval ships such as (most famously) submarines. If you’ve seen movies such as Crimson Tide and The Hunt For Red October, these can be armed just as they are about to strike their target.
Luke Skywalker firing the two proton torpedoes that destroy the first Death Star (and guided by the Force)
Same can be said for the photon torpedoes of Star Trek and Star Wars (or similar sci-fi shows and movies). As more spacecraft are built and flown, it is quite probable that a similar strategy will be employed to Space “torpedoes” as well.
A Stratofortress launching a cruise missile
The aerial version is the long range cruise missile, as you see being dropped from a B-52H Stratofortress.
AGM-86B cruise missile, used for long range conventional or nuclear strikes
The AGM-86B can carry either conventional explosives or a W80 thermal nuclear warhead. Up to 20 can be carried on one B-52H, while a smaller number can be carried on the B-1B Lancer.
Nuclear test in the Nevada Desert, with same destructive power as a photon torpedo (although the latter supposedly is based on anti-matter detonation which can be adjusted based on the target strength)
As for explosive power akin to photon torpedoes, our current fusion nuclear weapons fit this the best out of any existing weapons. These have been detonated and tested among 6 known countries in the world’s history, with the US being the only ones to use it in warfare (a.k.a. World War II in 1945).
USS Enterprise and USS Excelsior battling a powerful, rogue Klingon ship
The photon torpedo differs on the grounds of using theoretical anti-matter versus a nuclear reaction, and it’s destructive output can be adjusted by the crew of the ship firing it (e.g. the Starships Enterprise and Excelsior battling Klingon in Star Trek VI).
- Energy Weapons
USS Enterprise firing its phasers, a form of energy weapon
Energy weapons are different than projectile weapons. They utilize different scientific forces to accomplish defensive or destructive effects on adversaries themselves or their vehicles. The phaser is the primary energy weapon used by Star Trek ships in the Federation fleet.
Death Star destroying Alderaan in Star Wars Episode IV.
And who can forget the terrifying power of the Death Star’s Super Laser? There fortunately aren’t lasers this powerful in the known, current universe but they do show that lasers and other energy weapons are under consideration.
US Navy testing the Laser Weapon System
In the present era, high-power lasers are finally in use and under development by armed forces around the globe, particularly the US Armed Forces. They are beginning to utilize high powered, weaponized lasers to disable small boats such as pirate ships or incoming anti-ship missiles.
US Navy’s Laser Weapon System (or LaWS)
The US Navy’s version, called LaWS (acronym for Laser Weapon System), is a very effective and inexpensive means of defensive and offensive warfare compared to the traditional gunpowder/shell armaments.
Artist’s rendition of the USS Arizona’s forward powder magazine destroyed by Axis fighter’s bomb at Pearl Harbor (1941)
The safety factor for Navy ships can’t be overstated. Had the US Navy had these on the ships at Pearl Harbor in 1941 (a year when energy weapons were only seen in Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers cartoon strips or movie serials), the destruction of ships filled with explosive powder magazines would have been greatly reduced. The USS Arizona’s forward magazine explosion (see above) which led to 1,100+ deaths alone on the ship, would have led to significantly less deaths, and perhaps the laser weapons would have quickly decimated many of the incoming Axis bombers.
USAF test of an airborne-mounted laser energy weapon.
The US Air Force is also working on a version called ALTB, or Airborne Laser Test Bed. It is meant to work in a similar fashion to the Navy’s version. It might be possible that a weapon system could be adapted to fly on Air Force One to protect the President and Administration members. Enemy forces would stand little chance against such a powerful weapon in the modern era.
Sci-fi depiction of laser energy weapons on Star Wars’ X-Wing and Tie fighters.
They’re not yet exactly like the X-Wing fighter or the Tie Fighters of Star Wars, what the direction is alive and well. With the advancements made in atmospheric combat, there’s no doubt that interstellar combat maybe possible with energy weapons one day.
The Gunstar, a Frontier-defensive fighter from the movie The Last Starfighter.
If not against rogue extraterrestrials, they could definitely be employed against physical threats such as asteroids, comets, rogue nukes, etc. but it gives you a sense of wonder to think about the use of energy weapons, especially like the weapons on Alex’s Gunstar in The Last Starfighter (hailed as the BEST “Star Wars” copycat B-film. Maybe my Earthnaut buddies might like to see it . . . 🙂 ).
- Rail Weapons
The Rail Weapon is actually a form of projectile/kinetic weapon, but the projectiles are not self propelled like photon torpedoes, rockets, or missles. They are rail guns, a form of Electro-magnetic weapon that produces a magnetic field that propels a magnetic shell tremendous distances at very fast hypersonic speeds (Mach 5+).
A Zumwalt-class equivalent stealth destroyer with EM rail gun armaments
Breakdown view of how a Railgun works.
In essence, electromagnetic current through a coil produces a field which can propel a magnetically sensitive projectile forward when engaged, and an even faster/effective speed than the conventional gunpowder/shell weapons on destroyers and smaller craft.
Diagram showing effectively of a rail-gun used by US Navy destroyer
The diagram above shows the positives of using rail guns in combat. The sheer force of the strike will decimate the target and surrounding areas. There is no explosive propellants needed on the Navy destroyers (saving them from explosions as seen on the USS Arizona), and the others listed above.
The reimagined Battlestar Galactica. Primary armaments include a massive compliment of rail guns
In the original tv series Battlestar Galactica (1978), the ship was equipped with a massive compliment of laser/energy weapons. In the reimagined series from a few years ago, the ship was armed with rail-gun like cannons.
Two of the reimagined Galactica’s rail-gun cannons
As before, the sheer, immense velocity and power of these cannons are tremendous, and no target under current combat technology would survive such an onslaught.
Gimmick Commander Ben’s personal starship in Star Trek Online (aka USS Echo), armed with energy (phaser), projectile (quantum torpedoes), and kinetic (rail) weapons
So impressionable are these, that PC games such as Star Trek Online (of which I’m a player) have started to incorporate them. My prime starship, the small yet formidable USS Echo, has all three of the previously-mentioned weapons (energy, projectile, and rail).
- EMP Weapons
The last weapon we’ll talk about here is the EMP, or Electro-magnetic pulse weapon. The EMP is specialized form of weapon used predominantly to disable control systems such as electronics in adversary war machines.
Star Wars comic showing blue-blasts of Ion cannons, a sci-fi version of an EMP weapon
The ion cannons used by the B-wings and Y-wings in Star Wars are an example of EMP weapons meant to disable/damage enemy targets. Essentially, they destroy the circuitry that powers the vehicle’s control systems. On current electronic circuit boards, a powerful EMP would cause the circuit board traces and those inside the integrated circuits to burn/curl up.
A MIG-25 Foxbat fighter from Russia
Nuclear explosions can do the same thing when they detonate. This is why the former USSR (Russian) fighters chose to use vacuum tubes instead of semiconductors because they were much more robust against EMP pulses from American nuclear weapons.
Another strategy is to send nuclear missles in and “air-burst” to take out missiles that are outgoing and disable all electronics on the ground and air.
So basically, futuristic space weapons are here now. They aren’t yet like they are in science-fiction, but it’s clear that warfare is going in that direction. In an imperfect world, war technology’s secrets are the most fleeting of all (according to Spock in Star Trek), but for those who love freedom and despise tyranny, weapons like these are necessary granted that they are used to help those who cannot defend themselves (and not used for selfish purposes).
For The Great Galactic Space Gimmick, I’m Gimmick Commander Ben Faltinowski! 🙂
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