THE PARALLELS BETWEEN
SCIENCE FICTION & REALWORLD MILITARY
WEAPONS
By: Daniel Mayorga
ENG 2420 – Final Project Presentation
Date: 12/06/2016
KEY TERMS
• Military Science Fiction – A subgenre of Science Fiction that involves
the military (U.S. military), involves battles with the military, and usually
revolves around a futuristic Scenery.
• “Strange” – bizarre, out of the ordinary.
BACKGROUND INFO
• The U.S. Military developed advanced offensive weaponry and
defenses.
• Most of the influence is drawn from films. The appearance of the
weapon is taken into account. Is it implementable?
• Capabilities of the weapon is determined through the design process.
• Limitations applied to the weapon.
HOW WILL THESE PARALLELS BENEFIT
THE U.S. MILITARY?
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPER SOLDIERS
WILL ENHANCE HUMAN CAPABILITIES
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPER SOLDIERS WILL
ENHANCE HUMAN CAPABILITIES CONT.
• An article by John Knefel mentions, “enhanced human operations, but
the phrase refers to any sort of biologically altered soldier with
capabilities superior to a normal person.”
• Increased Endurance (Less Fatigue).
• Reduction of post traumatic stress (by short term memory loss).
• Enhanced natural recovery.
THEIR OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE PROWESS
CAN BE DERIVED FROM THEIR AIRCRAFT
DEVELOPMENT
• Lockheed SR-72
- Republic Attack Cruiser
THEIR OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE PROWESS
CAN BE DERIVED FROM THEIR AIRCRAFT
DEVELOPMENT CONT.
- An article by militaryfactory.com mentions, “There are a total of (215)
Modern and Future U.S. Military and Civilian Aircraft in the Military
Factory.”
- Future aircrafts are very comparable to aircrafts seen in Science Fiction
films.
- There will no longer be a pilot. Therefore, these aircrafts will be able
to travel beyond physical limits.
ARE THESE PARALLELS ETHICAL?
• Forced short term memory loss (Super Soldiers).
• Breaking physical Limits.
• Technological Advancements.
• Limitations.
CONCLUSION
• Weapons are produced through the inspiration of Military Science
Fiction works.
• Continuing on with these implementations will allow the U.S. military to
grow.
• Most of all, it’s fascinating.
WORKS CITED
• Cipera, Kelly. “Defining the Genre: Military Science Fiction | Fandomania.”
Fandomania, 25 May 2013.
• Knight, Will. “US Military Sets Laser PHASRs to Stun.” New Scientist. N.p., 7 Nov. 2005.
Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
• Knefel, John. “How the Pentagon Is Building the Super Soldiers of Tomorrow.” Inverse,
7 Jan. 2016.
• Universal Soldier (1992), Dir. Roland Emmerich. StudioCanal, 1992. Film.
• Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Dir. George lucas. Lucasfilm. 1999. Film.