Here's some High Tech for Ya
 

http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/20740/

I'd hate for these guys to get a huge start on us...

Umm...looks like they already have (and they're doing it with the money we send them for oil...). :o

We work on a lot of that same kind of stuff here where I work - the DOE just doesn't have pockets of unlimited depth like those guys...

....."The city, which is expected to cost $22 billion".....

Uhhhh, how much did Iwreck cost again? Our secret government won't release the official figures, but I suspect it was/is a little more than that.

They have a huge head-start, are wealthy and not buried in over $9T in national debt.

See China as well.

Best,

Don't forget the drug money because of the open trade ports.

Think of it as us outsourcing the R&D...

Meh. We can make world class fast food, and we're second to none in reality and talent TV shows.

LOL, oh yeah that'll work. For at least a month, after they spend a couple of years getting the bugs out. then it'll all crash and they'll either walk away or turn it into a more conventional city.

it sounds better on paper that it really is guys. Most of that pie in the sky BS is based more on wishful thinking than science.

We're second to none in a lot of things, actually.

It's not all bad, all doom and gloom. No one on earth can build anything even remotely as good as these:

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/...rf_375x300.jpg

Let me know when China can build anything anywhere near as good as one of these, at any price:

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Su-37

And Brazil.

No stealth, electronics are like childs toys compared to a raptor. Radar isn't even remotely comparable either. Nor is the engine technology.

The SU-37 is also just a (vastly inferior) tech demonstrator, not a production aircraft.

Guess again.

Disagree. F-22 is a great airplane, but too high-tech. For a beyond visual range missile shot they are unequalled. Trouble is, the first thing the pilot will be required to do is make visual ident of the target. It's also too expensive. The USAF needs adult supervision and get their tech and budget excesses in check. The Su-37 will eat an F-22 in a dogfight, imo.

An F-22 can out turn any plane in existance in the -real world- because of the new state of the art G suit US pilots wear, that allow sustained manuevers in excess of 11g's. Not that an F-22 would even have to turn to shoot one. It has a helmet mounted sight and AIM-9X. And the F-22s ECM/ECCM suite is another area that is absolutely without match, anywhere.

What's more, the F-22s real value is as penetrating and/or stand-off strike fighter.

And again, the SU-37 is a -tech demonstrator- that is in all ways inferior.

Here's another US toy that has no equal in the world.

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Think of it as us outsourcing the R&D...

At least USAF (grudgingly) put a gun on the F-22. The Su- series is more than a demonstrator, btw.

Sorry, can't see your vid.

Are you a scientist?

this got military in a hurry....

well, as much fun as our planes and other single weapons are, they are not the real advantage

what we have that others don't and won't for some time is AWACS, JSTARS and other platforms that INTEGRATE INFORMATION IN-theater. Right there, right now, in real time.

The govt. says it's an experiment:

They have MIT on board re the school, which is smart.

The experimental city is an incredibly wise and forward thinking move, for which the folks in Abu Dhabi should be congratulated.

Maybe someday we'll even have intelligent highway systems.

Maybe we should start with intelligent citizens? :D

Well it is in that field that our technological edge is most pronounced.

I made sure i mentioned our electronics and radar technology, even if in passing. ;)

...or intelligent politicians.

The two vids i posted were of the F-35B hovering, and the MTHEL mobile tactical laser shooting down all kinds of inflight projectiles.

From what I understand, the MTHEL is pretty fantastic stuff.

As for the F-35, methinks it's going to be a dodo. If the Marine version comes out without the lift fan that one might be a good a/c. Time will tell.

Well, it's true that the F-35B(VTOL version) is a fattie.

Keep 'em off the highway. How's that for an intelligent solution? :D

Has anyone ever taken up the Russian jet stall/ thrust vectoring challenge?

I was intimately involved in the ATL (Advanced Tactical Laser) and HELTD (High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator) programs prior to leaving Boeing. It is safe to say that the military is investing heavily in what they call "directed energy weapons". The technology is impressive for sure. I'm not sure how much real-world use it really has, but it is impressive nonetheless.

You keep spouting off about this with absolutely no concrete proof. A blog is not proof George. Get something concrete then we will believe you!

The oil industry is running our country and they do not prefer alternative, or clean, energy sources. Because of this, the rest of the world is going to beat us to the punch. This will be another golden opportunity squandered in the name of holy corporate profits.

It's a very interesting project, and they've got the money to do it. It should provide some high paying jobs for those schooled in the field, and an opportunity to change the world for the better. I cheer their efforts.