Lawrence Livermore officials unveil new weapon

modbee ^ | 2-2-06

[LouAvul]

LIVERMORE, Calif. (AP) - Officials at Lawrence Livermore National laboratory have added a new weapon to their armory, a high-powered gun that can fire 3,000 rounds a minute.

The weapons, which are also to be installed at other facilities in the Energy Department complex, were displayed Thursday by Linton Brooks, head of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Brooks called the new weapons a way to make sure any attempt to storm the nuclear weapons lab is unsuccessful.

"What we want to do is equip our protective force with the capability that will leave no doubt about the outcome," he said. "What we're not trying to do is level the playing field."

The new weapon is a Gatling gun, electrically powered, six-barreled and capable of firing more than 50 rounds a second. The Dillon Aero M134D guns will be mounted on vehicles and cost between $50,000 and $75,000. Lab officials declined to say how many guns they're deploying, citing security concerns.

Lab critics questioned the wisdom of putting a high-tech gun at the lab, which is across the street from suburban homes. They agree that the lab needs to be able to repel intruders but say the real problem is that the main site, which is relatively small at 1 square mile and in a major metropolitan area, isn't a good place for nuclear materials.

"If you don't have the firepower that's one kind of security weakness, but if you do have the firepower you potentially endanger nearby workers and community members because it's such a compact site," said Marylia Kelley, executive director of Tri-Valley CARES, a Livermore-based activist group. "You have homes and joggers and people walking their dogs and kids playing right out on the sidewalk across the street from the site."

[TC Rider]

Here's another shot of the lovely Kathy, notice her excellent trigger finger discipline.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

This reminded me of Metalstorm.com the Austrailian defense contractor that made that "million-rounds-a-minute" Area Defense System (ADS).

[Robert A Cook PE]

Buy access from Clinton's White House with 100,000.00 in campain donations.

Put on a security badge.

Walk in th efront door.

Wait for your top-level brass escort.

Walk out with with their laptop.

[proud_yank]

No classified work is done at Berkeley..... They DON'T collaborate on weapons work.

Drango,

Nowhere did I say that UC Berkeley collaborated specifically on weapons work with Lawrence Livermore. I did however say that Berkeley "collaborated with" Lawrence Livermore Natnl Lab. (post 19) That is a correct statement.

I did incorrectly say or imply that LLNL was in Berkeley (posts 9 & 14), but that was corrected (posts 17 & 19).

Nor did I say that UC Berkeley is doing weapons work.

The fact that LLNL develops weapons (see title of thread), and does collaborate with UC Berkeley (a very liberal univ) on research work in general (Again, I am not saying that UCB is doing weapons research), makes me very very happy. As I am sure that the fact that UCB is in any way, shape, or form, connected to a lab that does any military-related work is bound to cause some bleeding heart to have a stroke.

[Spktyr]

The Vulcan was available in 7.62 (the "Minigun"), as you may recall. It's still being fitted to aircraft - but they've dialed back their rate of fire to about 3K as well because of feed issues.

The purpose of this one is installation defense without shredding stuff far downrange. It's also far more reliable than the M61-types, which have a nasty tendency to jam when they've heated up. The other "gotcha" is that the M61 has a nasty habit of discharging when you chamber a round - this one does not.

[kerryusama04]

Why do we need a new one that fires smaller rounds at half the rate???

So it doesn't flip the HummVee over that it is attached to.

[proud_yank]

Would be a fun toy to have alright. Though, mid six-figures could buy lots of guns!

How are private citizens able to own them? I imagine that has to be a hard firearm to acquire.

[posterchild]

Actually I'm surprized that Lawrence Livermore Labs was working on such retro devices. Slinging matter for the impact of it's kinetic energy is so 'old school.' I'd expect particle beam weapons or something more modern.

[Badray]

Thanks for the ping, er, I mean the bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-

[Zetman]

Livermore is actually several miles to the east of Berzerkeley, across a couple of mountain ranges.

You call THOSE mountain ranges?? Those are just over-grown hills!!

:)

[Zetman]

Actually I'm surprized that Lawrence Livermore Labs was working on such retro devices. Slinging matter for the impact of it's kinetic energy is so 'old school.' I'd expect particle beam weapons or something more modern.

This is what they are talking about publicly, anyway. Who knows if they have additonal "new school" matter slingers which are too classified to talk about?? Perhaps if the activist wackos knew about ALL of the "protective measures" taken out at the labs, they would forget about their current complaints!! The government HAS been doing some intersting things with lasers recently....

:)

[oldenuff2no]

First, those aren't even close to mountain ranges. The sierra Nevada's and the Cascade's are mountain ranges. Those are hills.
Second,
Every GI that has worked around Nuclear weapons and related equipment knows full well that their lives will not be considered in any situation where weapons and necessary equipment may fall into enemy hands.
That is an absolute solid national policy. In other words if you get in the way, or get taken hostage your life will not be considered in any way. Maintaining absolute and secure custody is the only essential element of this policy.
If they have nuclear material at that site the same rules must apply. We can not let terrorists get their hands on nuclear material and kill millions because there is a house downrange.

[Wacka]

They can test them out on the mountain lions. There was one at the main entrance while the anti-nuke idiots had their yearly Good Friday sit in two years ago.

I have heard from someone doing contracting (not related to research) there that the outdoor basket ball courts and other rec area have wires strung across them about 20-30 feet in the air to stop a chopper from landing in the complex.

[Zetman]

First, those aren't even close to mountain ranges. The sierra Nevada's and the Cascade's are mountain ranges. Those are hills.

That's what I said!! I think you meant to address this comment to Martin_Fierro!!

[heckler]

Chain guns rule! hhhhuhuuhhhuuuuuhhu.

[atomic_dog]

Paging Gordon Freeman. Please pick up the white courtesy phone.