DARPA Guided Bullet Hits Moving Targets
DARPA, the Pentagon’s research arm, announced the successful testing of one of its latest programs: the guided bullet.
The latest experiment tested the bullets ability to hit moving targets.
The Exact Accuracy Tasked Ordinance (EXACTO) program started to increase a sniper’s range and accuracy in various situations, especially when faced with strong winds or adverse weather conditions, explains the program’s page.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) developed a guided .50 caliber bullet combining it with a real-time guidance system that tracks and delivers the bullet to its targeting. The system allows the bullet to change direction if needed to compensate for obstacles.
In July 2014 DARPA successfully conducted its first live-fire tests with the bullet, which closely followed a program flight path and hitting a static target. They uploaded a video of the test to YouTube.
In February DARPA successfully tested the EXACTO bullet against moving target. According to a press release, an experience EXACTO shooter and a novice to the system fired the bullet at a moving target. The bullet, as shown in the video below, adjusted its path and hit the target in all the attempts.
The bullet’s real-time optical guidance system worked to maneuver the projectile successfully.
“True to DARPA’s mission, EXACTO has demonstrated what was once thought impossible: the continuous guidance of a small-caliber bullet to target,” said Jerome Dunn, the project manager overseeing EXACTO.
“This live-fire demonstration from a standard rifle showed that EXACTO is able to hit moving and evading targets with extreme accuracy at sniper ranges unachievable with traditional rounds. Fitting EXACTO’s guidance capabilities into a small .50-caliber size is a major breakthrough and opens the door to what could be possible in future guided projectiles across all calibers.”
Watch a video of the test:
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