Laser-guided Bullets

You can run but you can't hide from this self-guided bullet...as long as the target is painted by a laser designator.

U.S. researchers have developed a self-guided bullet. The 10 cm, dart-like bullet can hit laser-designated targets more than 1.6 km away. It includes an optical sensor in the nose to detect a laser beam on a target, and instead of spinning when it comes out of the barrel like other bullets, this one flies straight with the help of fins. Models show the design of the bullet would result in dramatic improvements in accuracy.

The two engineers behind the bullet — Red Jones and Brian Kast, who work in a lab owned by a Lockheed Martin — are based in Albuquerque, N.M., and are both hunters. They are now seeking a private partner to complete testing of the prototype and begin selling it.

"We have a very promising technology to guide small projectiles that could be fully developed inexpensively and rapidly," Jones said. He noted accuracy also improves at longer ranges.

"Nobody had ever seen that, but we've got high-speed video photography that shows that it's true," Jones said. He also noted that while larger guided missiles are slow to respond to flight-path corrections, the bullet allows up to 30 changes per second.

"That means we can overcorrect, so we don't have to be as precise each time," Jones said.

The researchers said potential customers could include the military, law enforcement and recreational shooters.

Pity the varmints (4 legged and 2 legged) if this invention comes to market!

By: Shelldrake