Self Steering Bullet Developed By Lockheed Martin

[Robin]

I found this really cool and quite worrying in equal measures

Self-steering bullet researched by US weapons experts

A self-guiding bullet that can steer itself towards its target is being developed for use by the US military. The bullet uses tiny fins to correct the course of its flight allowing it to hit laser-illuminated targets.

An LED attached to a prototype bullet shows its flightpath during a night-time field test

It is designed to be capable of hitting objects at distances of about 2km (1.24 miles). Work on a prototype suggests that accuracy is best at longer ranges. A think tank says the tech is well-suited to snipers, but worries about it being marketed to the public.

Work on the project is being carried out by an Albuquerque-based subsidiary of defence contractor Lockheed Martin on behalf of the US government.

The current prototype involves a 4in (10cm) bullet which includes an optical sensor in its nose to detect the laser. This information is then processed and used to move motors within the bullet which steer tiny fins, altering the ammunition's path.

"We can make corrections 30 times per second," said researcher Red Jones. "That means we can over-correct, so we don't have to be as precise each time."

Accuracy

The team has carried out both field tests and computer simulations, and says "engineering issues" remain. However, they add that they are confident of bringing the product to market.

Experts say there would be great demand for the innovation on the battlefield.

"One of the big successes in Libya was that the accuracy of the munitions used was much higher than in previous campaigns," Elizabeth Quintana, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank told the BBC.

"97% of Nato's weapons hit their target to within about 2m (6.5ft). But that was achieved through air munitions.

"This would be a revolution for ground forces, and may help further cut down on civilian casualties in future conflicts."

Unlike most bullets the self-guided prototype minimises spin, aiming to fly like a dart. Normally small calibre rifle bullets are spun at over 2,000 revolutions per second to stabilise their flightpath and maximise speed.

But the team's patent application notes that previous attempts to create self-guiding rapidly-spinning bullets ran into the problem that the electronics required became too complicated.

To simplify things the researchers moved the bullet's centre of gravity further forward than it would normally be.

When combined with the fins this caused it to only spin a few revolutions per second, making it easier to steer. Because the bullet's motion settles the longer it is in flight, the researchers say its accuracy improves at longer ranges.

Tests with commercially available gunpowder have measured the bullet reaching just over twice the speed of sound (2,400ft per second), which is still below standard military speeds.

But the researchers say they are confident that they can increase its velocity with customised gunpowder.

Terrorism

A press release said that: "Potential customers include the military, law enforcement and recreational shooters."

That concerns some industry watchers.

"The public may be uncomfortable with the implications of people being able to use this without needing to have a sight line to the target - you could see this having terrorist uses," said Ms Quintana.

"There's talk of selling to recreational hunters, but I would imagine the authorities would want to limit the public's access to this kind of technology.

"But it would be useful for law enforcement - particularly in hostage situations."

 

[TankAss95]

That is amazing...

 

[Omnis]

So it's not a bullet, but a missile.

 

[lbsf1]

So it's not a bullet, but a missile.

But fired from a normal gun.

 

[TouringDevotee]

I found this really cool and quite worrying in equal measures

I especially enjoyed the section:

Terrorism

A press release said that: "Potential customers include the military, law enforcement and recreational shooters."

That concerns some industry watchers.

"The public may be uncomfortable with the implications of people being able to use this without needing to have a sight line to the target - you could see this having terrorist uses," said Ms Quintana.

"There's talk of selling to recreational hunters, but I would imagine the authorities would want to limit the public's access to this kind of technology.

"But it would be useful for law enforcement - particularly in hostage situations."

This actually reminds me of a talk that Eqbal Ahmad gave in 1998, after the U.S. (Bill Clinton) attempted to assassinate Osama bin Laden with cruise missiles. He said:

Four of the missiles intended for Afghanistan fell in Pakistan. One was slightly damaged, two were totally damaged, one was totally intact. For ten years the American government had kept an embargo on Pakistan because Pakistan was trying, stupidly, to build nuclear weapons and missiles. So the U.S. has a technology embargo on my country. One of the missiles was intact. What do you think the Pakistani official told the Washington Post? He said it was a gift from Allah. Pakistan wanted U.S. technology. Now they have the technology, and Pakistan's scientists are examining this missile very carefully. It fell into the wrong hands. Look for political solutions. Military solutions cause more problems then they solve."

 

[F1 fan]

To be honest, I'm surprised that technology like this is only coming to fruition now. It should not be sold to the public though. As a matter of fact, I don't think it should be used at all. It definitely shouldn't be used for Hunting. I don't hunt as I don't see the point, but I don't think many hunters would be pleased either. It takes away all skill.

 

[TankAss95]

To be honest, I'm surprised that technology like this is only coming to fruition now. It should not be sold to the public though. As a matter of fact, I don't think it should be used at all. It definitely shouldn't be used for Hunting. I don't hunt as I don't see the point, but I don't think many hunters would be pleased either. It takes away all skill.

I presume the bullet would spin as it left the barrel of the gun? I would think that's why the mechanism would be so complex.

It is quite scary stuff, but you can easily see why this could save lives in many situations.

 

[tfed]

Apparently its more a dart than a bullet,the homing device guides it to said destination. No spin

 

[TankAss95]

Apparently its more a dart than a bullet,the homing device guides it to said destination. No spin

Ahhh, Okay. 👍

This takes the quote from Martin Luther King in my signature to a new level.

 

[tfed]

Ahhh, Okay. 👍

This takes the quote from Martin Luther King in my signature to a new level.

Yeah dude scary indeed. Its amazing to think that the first gulf war was all tanks and fighter jets. Now its just pushbutton warfare. You got some mouth breathing srgt. in virginia just itching to push that button

 

[TankAss95]

Yeah dude scary indeed. Its amazing to think that the first gulf war was all tanks and fighter jets. Now its just pushbutton warfare. You got some mouth breathing srgt. in virginia just itching to push that button

True. Often I imagine what it would be like if we could 'give' technology back in time. Imagine the lives that could have been saved in WWI and WWII if we had some of the stuff we have today.

 

[tfed]

True. Often I imagine what it would be like if we could 'give' technology back in time. Imagine the lives th,at could have been saved in WWI and WWII if we had some of the stuff we have today.

I hear ya,but then again look at who the "superpowers" were back then,certainly not the USA. Germany was at the forefront of technology. I definatly get what you are saying though. I feel like better technology and better "tactics" would have served us (U.S.A.) better in vietnam.

 

[Dennisch]

So, at the next inauguration the US president will be in a bulletproof box, instead behind some shields.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I don't get why they would be sharing this information publicly.

 

[tfed]

I don't get why they would be sharing this information publicly.

Im assuming the technology would have to be approved by the UN,per the geneva convention.

 

[Keef]

So it's not a bullet, but a missile.

Missiles are self-propelled. This is just a laser-guided bullet. A brand-new type of ammunition, actually, because a guided bullet has never been done before.

 

[ExigeEvan]

It's not that surprising, they've had GPS guided artillery shells for a while now, it's just a matter of scale.


I just hope I get that job with Lockheed Martin now...

 

[Keef]

You would enjoy it. I like to think of Lockheed Martin as basically one of the greatest companies that do anything ever.

 

[TankAss95]

You would enjoy it. I like to think of Lockheed Martin as basically one of the greatest companies that do anything ever.

Except for Rolls Royce.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Except for Rolls Royce.

Eh? You have a thing for marine turbines?

 

[1241Penguin]

The world's gonna turn upside down if they released this bullet at all.

 

[ND4SPD]

Wanted anyone? Seriously though, that's pretty badass.

 

[hawkeye122]

Except for Rolls Royce.

Merlin Engines: (Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, de Havilland Mosquito, among other U.K. WW2 aircraft. It even improved the High-altitude performance of some American P-51's)

Various Jet engines for Boeing and Airbus

Power generators

Marine Engines

And Really fancy cars.

Rolls-Royce is pretty much really freaking awesome. Better than Lockheed Martin? Oh yes.

 

[Zenith]

10cm? That's length not caliber, correct? Otherwise I have no idea what sniper would want to use it

"The public may be uncomfortable with the implications of people being able to use this without needing to have a sight line to the target - you could see this having terrorist uses," said Ms Quintana.

People like this.

Should we stop developing all weapons to make sure that terrorists can never get their hands on advanced technology? Of course not. If anything, this is a safer bet than most other technologies. It'd be insanely difficult for a terrorist organization to get their hands on this and field it, let alone use it in a way that couldn't be done with a normal sniper rifle.

Why do media outlets always need to get "the other side"?

The world's gonna turn upside down if they released this bullet at all.

How do you figure?

Rolls-Royce is pretty much really freaking awesome. Better than Lockheed Martin? Oh yes.

Maybe back in the day, but I'm afraid time has moved on

 

[niky]

It's a laser-guided bullet.

A single shooter cannot shoot from around a corner and hit something with it. The amount of flight correction available won't ever be enough for a bullet to make a 90 degree turn (within the confines of, say, a standard two to six lane street) at those speeds... and not in response to a laser dot on target. It needs visual lock on the target at all times.

The user will either be a sniper who's got a laser scoped on the target to track it as it moves, or a group of snipers who are shooting at a laser dot painted on the target by a spotter who's closer to it. They'll have to solve the velocity issue first, though... you lose a lot of punch by going with a slower bullet... and a sniper firing on a tank or a vehicle will probably be more successful with a "dumb munition" that can punch through the armor and the engine block at a distance.

-

Strange that they're just going to trials with this now. They've been talking about fin-guided bullets for what seems like decades.

 

[niky]

It's a laser-guided bullet.

A single shooter cannot shoot from around a corner and hit something with it. The amount of flight correction available won't ever be enough for a bullet to make a 90 degree turn (within the confines of, say, a standard two to six lane street) at those speeds... and not in response to a laser dot on target. It needs visual lock on the target at all times.

The user will either be a sniper who's got a laser scoped on the target to track it as it moves, or a group of snipers who are shooting at a laser dot painted on the target by a spotter who's closer to it. They'll have to solve the velocity issue first, though... you lose a lot of punch by going with a slower bullet... and a sniper firing on a tank or a vehicle will probably be more successful with a "dumb munition" that can punch through the armor and the engine block at a distance.

-

Strange that they're just going to trials with this now. They've been talking about fin-guided bullets for what seems like decades.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Strange that they're just going to trials with this now. They've been talking about fin-guided bullets for what seems like decades.

Again, it's a matter of scale. They though the idea of shooting anything with electronics in it was impossible, and then they managed artillery shells. The other issue is like you state, the velocity.

But I suspect within our lifetime they'll do away with the fins and use morphing-body technology.

Merlin Engines: (Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, de Havilland Mosquito, among other U.K. WW2 aircraft. It even improved the High-altitude performance of some American P-51's)

Various Jet engines for Boeing and Airbus

Power generators

Marine Engines

And Really fancy cars.

Rolls-Royce is pretty much really freaking awesome. Better than Lockheed Martin? Oh yes.

You're from Derby, right? And so you know that Rolls Royce plc (Jet engines) and Rolls Royce Automotive are entirely separate, joined by name only, companies?

Also, as a Brit', I'm insulted you didn't mention the RR Olympus.

 

[Venom800tt]

Again, it's a matter of scale. They though the idea of shooting anything with electronics in it was impossible, and then they managed artillery shells. The other issue is like you state, the velocity.

But I suspect within our lifetime they'll do away with the fins and use morphing-body technology.

^ Pretty much hit the nail on the head. Making electronics that can survive the hundreds of g's of acceleration is difficult. Lots of forces being acted on the projectile when it is fired. And yeah, I think some sort of morphing or bending body will probably be more efficient once it can be done and done reliably.

And GE still makes the biggest, baddest turbofan around, the 115,000 lb-thrust GE90-115B

 

[ExigeEvan]

And GE still makes the biggest, baddest turbofan around, the 115,000 lb-thrust GE90-115B

I've seen someone take unauthorised photos of a maintenance-stripped GE-90 in Caerphilly, the image existed for all of 25 seconds. I 🤬 you not.

 

[BobK]

So it's not a bullet, but a missile.

Specifically a guided missile.

Missiles are self-propelled. This is just a laser-guided bullet. A brand-new type of ammunition, actually, because a guided bullet has never been done before.

There's no requirement that a missile be self-propelled. A thrown rock is a missile, albeit unguided.

Again, it's a matter of scale. They though the idea of shooting anything with electronics in it was impossible, and then they managed artillery shells. The other issue is like you state, the velocity.

Actually proximity fuses (which rely on a small radar set built into the shell) were used in WW II, and development started back in the 1930's.

The illustration in the article shows the round supposedly making a 270-degree turn and a fairly tight one at that. That just ain't gonna happen. If it's going to maintain any appreciable velocity, it's going to turn at most a very few degrees. So the idea of it shooting around corners is rather fantastic.

Don't get me wrong, the ability to correct the trajectory by even a degree or two makes it vastly more accurate. But dipsy doodles and curly queues? Nope.