'Metal Storm' weapons may replace Crusader

UPI Wire ^ | 5/12/2002 12:01 PM | UPI Editor At Large

[RLK]

Also imagine the recoil and the muzzle blast on any of this stuff. Firing any of this would leave a 100 foot deep crater in the earth and wipe out anybody within 1,000 feet of the contraption.

[knak]

metalstorm

[michigander]

Demonstration videos are available at Metal Storm (click on "Technology Demonstration").

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[RLK]

The days of massed troop formations where such equipment would be used are long gone. Two napalm bombs fry everything above ground in an area the size of a football field.

[Lazamataz]

Metal Storm also makes the Vle, a handgun with a 64-digit electronic keying system that conceals a transponder. An electronic message confirms when the weapon is set to fire and which fire setting is selected.

(sounds downstairs)

Me: Oh! Let me get my handgun. Let's see, the code is 8-1-2-4-1-4-5-6-7- oooh damn, let me try again.

(breaking glass noises)

Me: ummmmm... 8-1-2-4-1-4-5-6-8-6-4-9-0-0-5-2-3-2-5-3.... Shoot! Blew it again. Let me hit the cancel key.

(gunshot and my dog yelps once)

Me: THOR! OMG... 8-1-2-4-1-4-5-6-8-6-4-9-0-0-5-2-3-2-5-4-0-3-4-5-2-1-5-6-7-2-3-4-5-.... ARGGGGH.

(heavy footsteps coming upstairs)

Me: HURRY!!!... 8-1-2-4-1-4-5-6-8-6-4-9-0-0-5-2-3-2-5-4-0-3-4-5-2-1-5-6-7-2-3-4-8-1-5-9-0-5-4-3-4-5-8-2-0-1-2-8.... JEEZ!!!!

(bedroom door creaks open)

Me: 8-1-2-4-1-4-5-6-8-6-4-9-0-0-5-2-3-2-5-4-0-3-4-5-2-1-5-6-7-2-3-4-8-1-5-9-0-5-4-3-4-5-8-2-0-1-2-6-3-2-4-5-6-7.... (gunshot) AUUUUGH!!!!.....and I only had thirteen more digits to go....

[SkyPilot]

Good one!

[jdege]

Personally, I rather like the idea of IF systems that move at the same rate as the grunts. That remote-control airplane with all the wiz-bang weaponry won't be there, if the weather is bad, or if some REMF decides that attacking a rock on the other side of the country looks more impressive on the TV cameras, etc.

[PuNcH]

How much ammo do these weapons hold, how do they reload, what is their range and for the artillery replacement purposes can they indirect fire?

In the form of an smg or pistol, having to change out your barrels to reload sounds really ineffective.

[bob mccabe]

I agree with the posters who understand the difference between artillery and your basic ball and cap weapon…..on steroids.

The “Crusader” is just another improvement in the self-propelled artillery program. Its chief claim to fame is that it can accurately lob 5-6 shells in the air and have them all splash at once. The unspoken ultimate end game of the Crusader’s deployment will mean over all less Artillery slots service wide. If you were a forward deployed Artillery commander would you rather defend a base of 2 guns or 12? Since no one would put all their eggs in one basket the correct answer is 12.

Our Artillery is fine as it is and IMO this metal storm project is more procurement nonsense. We already have reliable chain guns lets buy more and find the will to use them.

[Hoplite]

If you were a forward deployed Artillery commander would you rather defend a base of 2 guns or 12?

If the 2 can do the work of the 12, I'd take the 2 any day.

[BillCompton]

Also imagine the recoil and the muzzle blast on any of this stuff. Firing any of this would leave a 100 foot deep crater in the earth and wipe out anybody within 1,000 feet of the contraption.

I don't think you're understanding the nature of this technology. There is no "muzzle blast." It doesn't use an explosion to propell the projectile. The high rate of fire quoted as examples gives you capabilities, not suggestions. Can you think of no situation where rapid fire would be desirable? Since it is all controlled with solid state electronics, you have many aiming and firing options. If an incoming supersonic missile is heading toward an aircraft carrier, might we not want to fire as fast as necessary to deal with the danger? The million rounds per minute stat is not a suggestion that it be fired for a minute, but in a tenth of a second, we might want to fire 1,500 rounds. I don't understand people pooh-poohing an idea they know nothing about.

[BillCompton]

If you were a forward deployed Artillery commander would you rather defend a base of 2 guns or 12?

If the 2 can do the work of the 12, I'd take the 2 any day.

"Sir, the good news is we only lost two artillery pieces today..."

[in the Arena]

I've been reading about this technology for several years and have yet to see answers to basic questions.

Given the unique arrangement of the projectiles in the barrel, what will be the expected accuracy ?

The projectiles are "stacked" within the barrel and electronically fired. As each subsequent round is fired the distance traveled down the barrel becomes ever increasing. Each subsequent projectile will have a different muzzle velocity. This in turn will require an ever changing point of aim for the same point of impact. This can be resolved by having different "charges" ignite for each projectile. Each charge will have to be computed for it's position in the barrel. Can you imagine the logistical problems this will create if you run out of a certain charge ?

How is the weapon reloaded ?

The ammunition is "stacked" within the barrel. Re-loading will either be a tedious manual effort of placing each projectile and it's charge at the precise position in the barrel, or a pre-loaded insert will have to be placed in the barrel.

I've looked over the Metal Storm web site and only found one reference to reloading:

Future Development: Further developments will also include a rapid reload capability,...

I realize I am being very skeptical of this technology but I feel this is a solution looking for a problem.

[varon]

Metal Storm also makes the Vle, a handgun with a 64-digit electronic keying system that conceals a transponder. An electronic message confirms when the weapon is set to fire and which fire setting is selected.

Put me down for one of these bad boys ;-)

[jwfiv]

You sure have a point, and the Crusader would be one BAD sumbitch to have in the mix.

I trust Rumsfeld to make the right call here, as he sees a bigger picture than I, and knows what other arrows may be in our quiver.

Still, I regret the plug was pulled.

[PuNcH]

There is no "muzzle blast." It doesn't use an explosion to propell the projectile.

The million rounds per minute stat is not a suggestion that it be fired for a minute, but in a tenth of a second, we might want to fire 1,500 rounds. I don't understand people pooh-poohing an idea they know nothing about.

The system does use explosives like regular ammo.

I'm not pooh-poohing the idea I just wonder how it can replace artillery.

[null and void]

Try again. What makes the projectiles go?

Hint: it's called propelant, not "explosives".

Does this phrase sound vaguely familiar? "For every reaction ther is an equal and opposite reaction."

Lots of mass accelerated and moved very rapidly in one direction, what's the equal and opposite reaction?

Bonus points for using the word "recoil" in the answer...

[RLK]

There is no "muzzle blast." It doesn't use an explosion to propell the projectile.

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Are you telling me there is no rapidly expamding gas or anything comparable to accelerate the projectile? Whit is this thing, a bow and arrow?