China claims to have developed a laser rifle capable of dealing out terrifying damage from a distance of almost a kilometre away.
Chinese researchers say the ZKZM-500 laser assault rifle can “instantly carbonise” human skin and tissue, or even set them on fucking fire. Whatever the outcome, the pain it dishes out is said to be “beyond endurance”.
According to a report from the South China Morning Post, the weapon is able to “burn through clothes in a split second … If the fabric is flammable, the whole person will be set on fire”. If this is indeed the real deal, it’ll be the first time a destructive laser has been created for use by individuals, rather than similar vehicle-mounted devices used for things like taking down drones.
The whole thing weighs about 3 kilos or as much as an AK-47 and can also be mounted on vehicles. Its range is a staggering 800 metres, which is pretty fucked up when you’re talking about something that can silently set shit on fire. For these obvious reasons, the weapon will be used exclusively by police who focus on anti-terrorism, as well as some military personnel.
“In the event of a hostage situation it could be used to fire through windows at targets and temporarily disable the kidnappers while other units move in to rescue their captives,” the SCMP report reads.
“It could also be used in covert military operations. The beam is powerful enough to burn through a gas tank and ignite the fuel storage facility in a military airport.”
It’s feared if the weapon falls into the wrong hands, it could allow people to conduct arson attacks silently from a great distance with a completely invisible beam. Still, the rifle is classified as non-lethal.
The terrifying ZKZM-500 can be manufactured for 100,000 yuan ($AU20,405) each. Scarier yet, it simply runs on a rechargeable lithium battery which can fire over 1,000 per charge, with each shot lasting no longer than two seconds each.
It’s a horrifying time to be alive, folks.
