New machine gun capable of firing 1 million rounds a minute

www.wired.com ^ | Sept. 28, 2001 | Stewart Taggart

[webster]

SYDNEY, Australia -- It may not be ready for George Bush's "first war of the 21st century." But it may well be ready if there's a second.

In perhaps the most audacious upgrade of high-speed weaponry since the introduction of the Gatling Gun, Australian inventor Mike O'Dwyer has developed a machine gun that can fire bullets at a rate of 1 million rounds per minute.

[ScreamingFist]

"I will have to admit that I don't even know what a M-61A1 is

LOL. Well ScreamingFist NEVER misreads a post......

(Quietly slinking away.......)

[ScreamingFist]

After some serious thinkin' (and some consultation), you are correct. I wouldn't call this a gun, controlled shaped charge explosion would be more correct. Good ideas Chookter.

[He Rides A White Horse]

O'Dwyer has filed for at least 58 patents on the invention, and the U.S. and Australian militaries together have put up roughly $50 million for further research

I'll bet.

[Ditto]

simply fire the right 'panels' in the right direction and the aircraft would fall out of the sky as chaff.

More like napalm or a fuel-air blast.

[He Rides A White Horse]

This is a toy with no practical application.

Yet.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Thanks dude!

[yarddog]

It must be a Vulcan. That is the only thing I can think of which fires that fast.

I grew up near Eglin AFB's largest bombing range. I used to sit with binoculars at the top of my parents pasture and watch the planes bomb. Every now and then I would hear a short one or two second roar and I knew it was a vulcan.

Eglin used to put on a firepower demonstration once a year and one of the things they would do was fire a succession of machine guns beginning with an 1895 Browning, etc. Finally they would fire a burst from a Vulcan. Absolutely amazing.

Another thing they would do was have an F-104 come by and launch a sidewinder, then he would shoot it down with another sidewinder. The announer would say that they sidewinder was so sensitive it could track the heat from a cigarette. It was always amusing to watch people around me putting out their cigarettes.

[Cogadh na Sith]

More like napalm or a fuel-air blast.

Yeah, better that outside the building than inside.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Meanwhile, other military uses for the technology could include installing it aboard robots to clear the way for ground troops or aboard jets to provide protective cover for reconnaissance planes.

I've seen everything but last ditch incoming missile defense system, something like Vulcan Phalanx. Talk about putting up a wall of lead, projectiles, what have you.

[techcor]

You mean Hollyweird stole my idea before I even thought of it? Typical.

[yarddog]

My most humble apology.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Finally they would fire a burst from a Vulcan. Absolutely amazing.

Yeah, those things sound like a lawnmower. I'll bet the Metal Storm just sounds like a slightly prolonged "BAAANG"!

[He Rides A White Horse]

'Panels' of these things on top (or on the side of) skyscrapers as Anti-Kamikaze-Aircraft protection.

Man, there's an application in light of recent events.

Rudimentary fire control I'm sure. Just a sweep on some plane (geometric) and watch everything fall burning to the ground.

[Storm Orphan]

But do they make a shoulder holster for it?

[freefly]

As many times as I have seen ScreamingFist step on his meat,
let me say (for him) "no apologies necessary".
(Of course freefly NEVER misreads a post...)
;-)

[Ditto]

I guess.

[freefly]

Among other applications, I would think that it would make an excellent payload for a SAM or AAM.
Basically highly directional hypervelocity (?) shrapnal.
Instead of a "cone of lead" it could produce a "cylinder of lead" and a much larger kill-zone.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Coming soon, the personal version. The caliber is next to zilch, but the recipient dies a death of a thousand cuts. Literally.

Or perhaps a million.

[freefly]

Uh...
Then it might be best if you DIDN'T strap it to your belt!
Besides, what about that damascus-bladed clip point you've been "sporting"?
Wear it out or something?