Pentagon Successfully Tests First Small-Caliber, Self-Guided Bullets [VIDEO]

The Daily Caller ^ | 11 Jul 2014

[mandaladon]

The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has announced the first successful live-fire tests of the military’s first smart, self-guided bullets.

In a video released by DARPA Thursday, Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordinance (EXACTO) .50-caliber bullets maneuvered independently mid-flight to accurately strike targets purposefully offset from where the firing sniper rifle was aimed.

The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has announced the first successful live-fire tests of the military’s first smart, self-guided bullets.

In a video released by DARPA Thursday, Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordinance (EXACTO) .50-caliber bullets maneuvered independently mid-flight to accurately strike targets purposefully offset from where the firing sniper rifle was aimed.

Wired reported in 2012 the first successful prototype test of the military’s first-ever guided small-caliber bullets, developed by Sandia National Laboratories and Lockheed Martin. Around four inches long, the bullets feature optical tips to detect laser beams shown on targets. Actuators inside the bullets then steer tiny fins on their surfaces, which guide them to targets based on information from the tip sensors.

The bullets can strike a target accurately while accommodating for weather, wind, target movement and other factors, according to DARPA. The prototype tests were able to successfully strike targets from more-than a mile, or 6,500 feet away.

“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,” the agency explains on its website. “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.”

[BlueDragon]

"...So Leo gets the crazy idea to have his friends core the cannon balls to lighten them, then fill them with gunpowder and a wick. ..."

CSS Texas vs. Helicopter from the movie Sahara.

[rktman]

First, SMALL caliber? A .50 is now classified as a small caliber? So I guess a .308 is a mini cal and a .22 would be a micro cal? The REAL problem I see in the picture (did anyone else see it since I haven’t read all the comments yet) is there’s a pack of CAMEL cigs in the range bag. Don’t they know those things will kill ya’? Okay, goin’ to the garage for a Marlboro now. ;>}

[Elsie]

So; they’ve miniaturized Walleye missiles now; eh?

[Elsie]

Compared to an AGM-62; it IS ‘small caliber’!

[Elsie]

I’m curious, when did, what year and what wars, the cannon ball go from a metal ball to something that exploded on impact ?

I think we'd have to ask the early Chinese...

[Elsie]

sections of chain, heated red hot, fired from a cannon, managed to take out a LOT of sailing ships rigging and set them on fire!

[Elsie]

Wonder when some hobbyist will create self-guiding ammo that regular folks can make for themselves...

I'd imagine it IS available; If one considers an RC model plane as ammo; that is.

The Walleye technology is extremely simple to implement.

[null and void]

16"/50 caliber Mark 7?

Shouldn't that be:

16"/50 calibers Mark 7

As in the barrel length is 50 times the shell diameter/caliber?

[PLMerite]

Roger Rabbit did it first:

Of course, they weren't very bright...

[LonePalm]

Uh, no. BuOrd officially designated it as the 16"/50 caliber Mark 7. In this case the Mark 7 referred to the gun barrel.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[null and void]

Brought to you by the same people who pronounce “Cache” as “Ca-shay”...

[FreedomPoster]

Nicely done. Great movie.

[DoughtyOne]

Agreed...

[DoughtyOne]

I agree... No sarcasm tag here either.

[DoughtyOne]

The point isn’t that it is a signification round in military circles, but this wasn’t reported out by a military magazine.

I believe the double standard is one that is important.

I will admit that the source wasn’t exactly a main stream source, so I’m vulnerable on that point.

I do think we need to hold the media’s feet to the fire.

Hell, they’d demand we get rid of bee-bee guns too, the rounds being so dangerous.

[DoughtyOne]

Elsie, the point is that the media shouldn’t declare it large one minute and small another.

In an age where bee-bee guns are deemed too dangerous for private ownership, the Left needs to have it’s feet held to the fire for double standards concerning gun or ammunition details.

[Elsie]

Elsie, the point is that the media shouldn’t declare it large one minute and small another.

I've long ago given up ANY thought that the MEDIA is going to be presenting ANYTHING right!

Or consistently the same; too!!

[Elsie]

In an age where bee-bee guns are deemed too dangerous for private ownership...

Ralphie was warned...

[sport]

I would not want to be shot by one guy with a .22LR.

[Covenantor]