Re: Further thoughts on hitting with lasers

Jonathan spake thusly upon matters weighty: 

> Are you guys taking into account the transit time from the target to
> your sensors in your overall on-target timing calculation?  That
should
> at least double the response time, even assuming that target
processing
> is instantaneous.

Good point. I don't think they'd thought about that. And whatever 
reading you have, the quality increases as the target grows closer 
(less likelihood the target has changed course in the lag time).  At 
close ranges, this target to ship to target time might not be long 
indeed, but it will (I assume) effectively double the misalignment 
you calculate using the method the other folks were using. 

Mind you, I don't think it dispells the point that at visual ranges 
(200-500 km with optics ? ), your fighters would be meat if they 
didn't have visual stealth or hyper manoevrability at high Gs. If 
they had visual and EM stealth, and/or manoevre (random walk 
perhaps?) evasions, then they might still have a decent chance of 
surviving. Even some low level ablative shielding - enough to let 
them take a short hit while they attack - could be replaced on 
carrier landings... would probably be enough to stop the hits they 
might take on closing with the enemy.....

Tom. 
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