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DARPA Tests Bullet-Sized Homing Missiles

posted by janrinok on Monday July 14 2014, @01:52AM   Printer-friendly
from the a-shot-in-the-arm-for-munitions dept.

AnonTechie writes:

The US military has been testing in-flight guidance for .50-caliber bullets, turning the projectiles into miniature homing missiles.

DARPA's Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO) bullets have the ability to manoeuvre in flight to hit targets that they're not precisely aimed at, compensating for factors like weather, wind, and target movement.

DARPA explains on its website: "For military snipers, acquiring moving targets in unfavorable conditions, such as high winds and dusty terrain commonly found in Afghanistan, is extremely challenging with current technology. It is critical that snipers be able to engage targets faster, and with better accuracy, since any shot that doesn't hit a target also risks the safety of troops by indicating their presence and potentially exposing their location."

The bullets are the size of a large pen and can be used in both sniper rifles and machine guns. The full EXACTO system comprises of both bullets and a real-time guidance system that tracks and delivers the projectile to the target.

 
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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by cafebabe on Monday July 14 2014, @02:26AM

    by cafebabe (894) on Monday July 14 2014, @02:26AM (#68738) Journal

    I've seen an old video of this concept [youtube.com] and I wasn't impressed with the performance.

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  • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday July 14 2014, @05:07AM

    by c0lo (156) on Monday July 14 2014, @05:07AM (#68777) Journal
    New video [youtube.com] - somehow I wonder if, after "correcting" so much, the bullet has enough damage power left.
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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0

    • (Score: 4, Informative) by frojack on Monday July 14 2014, @06:25AM

      by frojack (1554) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 14 2014, @06:25AM (#68791) Journal

      Humans are classified as thin skinned game. Its 50 cal. If its got 150fps left, its going right through.

      It takes four Taliban to carry away a wounded leader. Only one to bury him.

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      No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.

    • (Score: 2) by choose another one on Monday July 14 2014, @07:35AM

      by choose another one (515) on Monday July 14 2014, @07:35AM (#68804)

      Raise you another old video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heMboVN12r0 [youtube.com]

      Just give this new one a warhead, and heat pattern seeking for autonomous guidance and you're there.

      Runaway...

      • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday July 14 2014, @09:13AM

        by c0lo (156) on Monday July 14 2014, @09:13AM (#68819) Journal
        Seen your heat guided one and raise you with a laser guided one [phys.org].
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        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0

        • (Score: 2) by choose another one on Monday July 14 2014, @11:33AM

          by choose another one (515) on Monday July 14 2014, @11:33AM (#68857)

          Meh. That's just like TFA - needs line-of-sight and target needs to stay still and not duck into cover.

          Bullets that follow the target round corners are way neater.

          Mind you, I guess if you combined a 50-cal with some kind of long range IR or teraHz imaging you could just shoot the target through the wall...

  • (Score: 2) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Monday July 14 2014, @12:01PM

    by GreatAuntAnesthesia (3275) on Monday July 14 2014, @12:01PM (#68863) Journal

    Good choice. I was thinking more along the lines of this [youtube.com] but I have to say I prefer your link.

    Hmmm, those two links happen to link together two of my favourite all time favourite cinematic [tumblr.com] women [youtube.com].

    I'll be watching the rest of this thread carefully to see if any other film references come up, and IMDBing the lead actresses...