But what about bullets? Smart bullets will become a reality if the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has its way.
Several projects that aim to increase the efficiency of the U.S. military are managed and overseen by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. They work with universities and private companies to create high tech projects.
There have been smart bullets on the menu. The idea of guided weapons has been around for a long time.
The military was much more effective and lethal thanks to guided munitions. The average grunt has access to guided anti-armor assets. It's a challenge to shrink guided munitions down to bullet size. There isn't a lot of room to work, but that doesn't mean the possibility isn't obvious.
Why would anyone want to use smart bullets?
Accuracy is the most obvious question. Each round has a guided smart projectile. The more lethal a weapon is the more accurate it is.
Guided smart bullets can be used to defeat threats from swarms of drones to missiles. Weapons such as the 20mm Phalanx CIWS are used to defend ships from missiles.
Smart bullets have a safety aspect to them. I said it was safe. During the 20 years of the GWOT, warfare took place close to or in the midst of civilians. There were situations where the deadliest weapons couldn't be used.
If you have a truck full of bad guys, a LAW or AT4 can be used, but they can't be used if civilians are killed.
Non-explosive projectiles can be used to eliminate the threat.
.50 caliber weapons can travel a long way and still have enough energy to kill. Friendly fire and civilian incidents will be limited by being able to guide those big bullets.
Price is the biggest downside. The costs of these rounds aren't known, but they are likely to be expensive. These will not be general issue items for some time.
They are small. It's difficult to fit the tech into your average infantry rifle caliber, so guided munitions will be limited to large, powerful platforms.
Smart bullets are not being used. Three of them show great promise despite being in the early stages of life. Two of the traditional bullets are in rifles and the third is for ship deck guns.
It's called EXACTO because of its extreme accuracy. Video evidence shows that the work was done by the DARPA. The projectiles are from the Army's standard rifle. The tech and capabilities are kept under wraps by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
The EXACTO smart bullets will use a complete system. The scope gave the information needed to direct the projectile. The videos show the rounds hitting targets.
It would be easy to pick off enemy soldiers with this tech, but I can see how it could be used in other ways. If you move it to a machine gun, you can lay down devastating suppressive fires.
The 50-caliber round was produced by the National Labs. This is a unique round and also a unique rifle. A laser designator is used to make the projectile. The user can divert the round or track the target with the help of the laser.
A counterbalancing mass and stabilizing strakes will be included in the bullet of the rifle. The flight tests can be done with commercially available components. The laser's effectiveness is questionable, but that is still to be seen.
If the laser and shooter were separate, it would be interesting. The infantryman with the eyes on the target could make a decision as to who would take out which person. Is it possible that one laser could guide many projectiles? It might be a more cost effective option.
If there is a system like this, it isn't a smart bullet.
The system is designed for 57mm deck guns. The deck guns are capable of firing 200 rounds per minute.
Smart bullets can engage multiple targets even if they are moving. A swarm of drones attacking a ship They could be cut down by the Mad-Fires system.
The deck gun has a large capacity and rate of fire. It's smaller and more efficient than a missile and 57mms is enough room to fit some of the more impressive tech.
Smart bullets are one of the projects that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is involved with. I think they have jetpacks and lightsabers there as well. Hopefully.
Smart bullets could be a new option for military personnel. I'm looking forward to seeing where the project will take us and how our troops will benefit from it.
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