CNN had a story today about using a Hummer-mounted industrial laser to clear surface mines up to 250 meters away. Wouldn't it be equally effective to use a Barrett light .50 with API (armor piercing incendiary - an explosive round capable of causing sympathetic detonation or at least setting the explosive on fire)? I could fit a lot of boxes of .50 ammo in the back of a hummer, not to mention that off-the-shelf has certain budgetary and practical advantages (no R&D and you know it works). It seems to be a modern axiom that we should reach for new gadgets before developing new tactics. |