That should make an impression.
Posted on 02/02/2006 6:31:53 PM PST by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
I like it.
ping
That should make an impression.
Maybe just a little overkill? Someone is smiling though...3,000 rounds a minute. Wow
Looks like it'll level the playing field... and the bleachers... and the forest beyond...
Can you imagine just one minute of misses !
Awesome! A friend of mine collaborates a lot with Lawrence Livermore Natnl lab.
I really have to smile at the fact that new weapons technology are being developed in Berkeley, AKA "Home of the Peace Mom"!
Aghhhhhh.....(Drools on keyboard)
At 3000 rounds a minute, what I am wondering is who is going to load that puppy? Getting a little old and slowing up, doubt I could keep up.
Bet it sounds sweet!
Throw on some ivory grips and mebbe we got us a deal...
Is that from a helicopter? Same gun they're testing?
Livermore is actually several miles to the east of Berzerkeley, across a couple of mountain ranges.
2 sidemount lightweight M134D's mounted sidesaddle on an apache gunship - 5800 rounds per minute. (from DillonAero website)
Its about 45 min, Livermore is in collaboration with UC Berkeley though. Very liberal hotbed nonetheless.
Uhhhhhhhh they are NOT the same.
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