Lethal UAV tech in the works.

Metal Storm ^ | 2003 | Metal Storm

[Polliwag]

Look at this video of a future application for UAVs applying an electronic ballistics weapons system.

Their web sight has some really cool videos related to actual and future applications of this new technology.

[Polliwag]

A lot of videos showing the technology and and potential applications.

http://www.metalstorm.com/

[Migraine]

UAV = Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; for the acronym challenged, like me. I had to read for 5 minutes before finding out what it meant.

[natewill]

Holy Cow! I just dowloaded a few of the mpegs at this site. I'm speechless! First of all, our military and police forces are going to eventually get these weapons, and I'm sure the public will be left out of the loop. That is some seriously highpowered stuff. Not just the 40mm grenades, but also the handguns and other toys they had there. Scary.

Secondly, the smart gun is here. Electronic firing, user recognition. Will conventional firearms really disappear? That is scary too.

[neverdem]

MULTIPLE BANGS

[neverdem]

The potential for misfires due to short circuits or accidental dicharges due to static electricity are so great that I don't believe the military or the police will accept weapons based on electronic ignition systems until they can demonstrate a reliability that is equal to or greater than current mechanical firing systems.

I'm not any kind of engineer, but this electronic system would have to possess one or more layers of redundancy that function automatically without fail, especially when you're up close and personal. Otherwise, personal weapons with such electronic ignition systems that also incorporate individual recognition to determine authorized users may be as useful as a rock or a club.

New Jersey enacted a law requiring "smart" technology three years after successfully coming to market, IIRC. They made a specific exemption for the police.

[Polliwag]

Leading U.S. Gun Manufacturer Joins NJIT To Develop Personalized Handgun

NEWARK, Nov. 26

An agreement to form a trilateral partnership to develop a unique personalized handgun was signed by New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc., Florida, and the Australian-based research and development company Metal Storm, Ltd

http://www.njit.edu/publicinfo/press_releases/release_440.php

[Polliwag]

Here is another application.

"AICW - an advanced individual combat weapon, equipped with a Metal Storm barrel using a range of projectiles including air bursting and kinetic rounds"

Here was the next century combat weapon being devoloped for US and Nato use. It got cancelled. One key reason was weight.

http://www.hkpro.com/oicwcasing.jpg

Note the big part here.

http://www.hkpro.com/oicwstripped.jpg

Now see the prototype using this technology.

http://www.tenix.com/PDFLibrary/150.pdf

BTW: DARPA (U.S. - Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) has funded a lot of the research and development of this technology platform.

Check out these 2 articles:

WASHINGTON, May 12 (UPI) -- A new ballistic technology that can fire burst rates in excess of one million rounds per minute from a 36-barrel weapon was one of the reasons Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld canceled the $11 billion Crusader artillery system.

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=12052002-105108-1155r

From the Weekly Standard:

Metal Storm: Rise of the Machines
How one company is creating guns that fire a million rounds per minute and revolutionizing the way we think about weapons.
by Victorino Matus
07/16/2003 12:00:00 AM
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/893foort.asp

[neverdem]

Let me be the first to welcome you to this forum. Your the second new Freeper I greated today. I need to play today's numbers if it's not too late.

[neverdem]

Thanks for all the links. The Metal Storm technology may be quite useful. The Dynamic Grip Recognition technology, like other "smart" technologies are something else.

They are persuing technological approaches on the assumption that anyone but the authorized user is to be avoided at all costs, even if that unauthoeized person has good intentions, such as stopping a bad guy. It's based on the "if it can save only one life" line of reasoning, and it denies the approximately two million times each year that crimes are thwarted, the vast majority of those criminals stopped by the mere brandishng of a weapon by the intended victim.

[neverdem]

greated = greeted

[Polliwag]

Thx for the welcome:

Here is something about to be tested in the US. DOD will be the audience.

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/uav-04i.html

Here is something I just saw that lays it all out.

http://www.metalstorm.com/04_military_applications.html

Here is a video of what appears to be the 2nd most mature application.

http://www.metalstorm.com/04_videos/ms_area_denial.rm

[endthematrix]

Did you know that General Downing was/is on the board and has DoD looking into these devices. It fits the "transformation" theme approach to modular and multi use of weapon platforms. The stock is cheap...now.

[endthematrix]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/k-metalstorm/browse

[endthematrix]

This is what WE have.

Lockheed Martin Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicle Sabre Warrior