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The First Guided Bullet

Discussion in 'Military History' started by GRW, Dec 16, 2014.

  1. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    Sure this is new?
    "The US military has successfully tested a .50-caliber sniper round that can change direction on its way to its target.
    And now the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) has released a video of this Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (Exacto) program in action.
    The footage shows the bullet changing direction in mid-air in response to a target's movements.
    According to Darpa: 'For military snipers, acquiring moving targets in unfavourable 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.'
    Darpa claims the new system is the first ever guided small caliber bullet.
    'The Exacto .50-caliber round and optical sighting technology expects to greatly extend the day and night time range over current state-of-the-art sniper systems,' continued the agency.
    'The system combines a manoeuverable bullet and a real-time guidance system to track and deliver the projectile to the target, allowing the bullet to change path during flight to compensate for any unexpected factors that may drive it off course.
    'Technology development in Phase II included the design, integration and demonstration of aero-actuation controls, power sources, optical guidance systems, and sensors.
    'The program’s next phase includes a system-level live-fire test and technology refinement to enhance and improve performance.'
    The current world record for the longest certified kill was by Corporal Craig Harrison of the UK Household Cavalry, who killed two Taliban in November 2009 from 1.54 miles (22.4km).
    The shot was approximately 3,000ft (914 metres) beyond the stated maximum range of the Accuracy L115A3 sniper rifle, used by Corporal Harrison.
    The Taliban were so far away it took each round almost three seconds to reach its target."
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2876120/Department-Defense-testing-bullet-CHANGE-DIRECTION.html#ixzz3M7DyH4Ng
     
  2. Smiley 2.0

    Smiley 2.0 Smiles

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    That is about as bizarre as it is awesome.
     
  3. Poppy

    Poppy grasshopper

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    How on earth could they correct in flight .50 cal.

    Thought only Angela J could manage that feat.
    Curve the bullet:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_p9VIBYo1E
     
  4. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    One of the things that impressed me with this when I first read about it was that he only fired 3 shots and took out 3 targets, the third round hitting the 14.7mm mg that the two other targets were attempting to use on other British troops.
     
  5. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    I remember that, Lou. Miraculous shooting by any standards.
     
  6. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Sounds a bit dodgy...the round would at least have to have a receiver and then some sort of actuator system....far more than a "bullet" maybe the first rifle fired missile?
     
  7. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    Missiles are self powered. A "smart bullet" like a "smart bomb" wouldn't require a power source. Copperhead was an early "smart bullet" for instance all be it a 155mm one there are numerous smart mortar and artillery rounds now. The degree of miniturization and control for such a round is mind boggling though for 12.7mm.
     
  8. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    'An object which is forcibly propelled at a target, either by hand or from a mechanised weapon'... Not one of my definitions mind... : )

    If it's fired from a rifle, most definitions would class it as a bullet...but would one describe a rifle fired/launched grenade as a bullet?
     
  9. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    And you will see some references to arrows and spears as missiles even though they aren't guided. In this case, especially given the analogy with smart artillery rounds, I would still consider them bullets. An even tougher one in some ways than the rifle grenade is the Soviet/Russian tank gun launched ATGMS. They are "forcibly propelled" from the cannon but then further propelled by rocket engines and generally considered "missiles".
     
  10. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    I think what we are seeing is indicative of technology in general...many or all technologies refined into a few or one...traditional lines or delineation are being eroded and blurred...

    A slight assumption here but I do assume the 'projectile' is taking information from the sniper/rifleman weapon and attenuating its flight either by direct manipulation of the user or a laser that the projectile tries to follow...either way this, without a closed circuit scenario must have its limitations...certainly important targets could carry local jammers for example...
    And a final thought is that I don't think I'm being cynical when I say that this is not for snipers or marksmen as advertised...this is to some extent for turning an average joe into a marksman....ultimately evolved into a weapon we see pretty often in cartoons or super hero movies...where multiple targets are locked and ten flechette type bullets/missiles all home in on their targets...these will be fired by autonomous combat modules...that's maybe 10 plus years away IMO...
     
  11. Carronade

    Carronade Ace

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    I wish the article would give some indication of how it works.
     
  12. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    Sandia National Labrotories has had their "guided bullet" out - publicly - since 2012.
    [​IMG]

    DARPA, however, is very tight-lipped concerning their projects.
     
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  13. Poppy

    Poppy grasshopper

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    Amazing...3 degrees is significant over long ranges, me thinks...How much per unit. Can't be cheap.
     
  14. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    I think that might depend significantly on cost. Snipers are trained not just to shoot but to get into position to take the shot and then to move on to set up another. Unless they were really cheap I'm not sure you'd be handing these out in mass to "grunts".
     

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