[greydog]

My suggestion for Mideast peace - erect a wall at the green line, let the PLO have everything on the other side, and have several of these babies flying non-stop around the wall.

To appease the UN (and OSHA) though, you would have to put up signs on the PLO side stating "WARNING, YOU ARE LEAVING A CONFINED AREA"

[Krafty123]

Didn't I see this stuff in Eraser?

_RIPOFF_

Ari

[genefromjersey]

METAL STORM : Got clogged drains ? Does sinus pressure keep you awake ? Suffer from Performance Anxiety ?

Get METAL STORM . It even does weddings and bar mitzvahs.
batteries sold separately.

[billorites]

"Metal Storm's submachine gun will be capable of firing multiple barrel rapid-fire bursts at 45,000 rounds per minute per barrel."

I gotta have one.

[RLK]

Rate of fire is not the problem. 6,000 rounds a minute is perfectly adaquate. The problem is ammunition supply.

[Fishing-guy]

How would a weapon like this replace the function of artillery? This seems to be a small caliber weapon.

[michigander]

Metal Storm: Ultimate Killing Machine? {13 million rounds a minute}
New machine gun capable of firing 1 million rounds a minute

[aculeus]

The problem is ammunition supply.

That and running out of live enemy to kill.

[Asclepius]

The system's unprecedented firing capabilities can lay down a continuous 50-meter-wide carpet of grenades for about two miles, firing all its grenades simultaneously with a five-yard separation on impact.

So much for the trend toward precision, guided munitions.

Imagine children playing or farmers farming or walkers walking amidst the dud and unexploded munitions, ten, twenty, thirty years later. And losing limbs.

[Ranger]

A handy tool for a space based anti-missile system. Also interesting area defense system for naval vessels. I wonder what the projectile speed is?

[knak]

metalstorm

[michigander]

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

[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....

[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 ;-)

[pyx]

Most of Metal Storm's work is top secret. Already under development is an "area denial weapons system," including an unmanned aerial combat vehicle that will carry twelve 40-mm mortar boxes comprising a total of 1,200 tubes, and armed with 7,200 grenades. The system's unprecedented firing capabilities can lay down a continuous 50-meter-wide carpet of grenades for about two miles, firing all its grenades simultaneously with a five-yard separation on impact.

Oh yeah ? Prove it works ! Show us a demo on say ... downtown Mecca, Saudi Arabia during ramadan ! ;)

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I read about this "metalstorm" in a the April (or March) issue of Soldier of Fortune.

I think it uses multiple rounds lined up one after another in each barrel of the weapon and (if I remember correctly) it uses and electronic ignition system to fire the rounds, the first round firing seals itself against round behind it.

I'll try and find the article and post more data on this later.