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Running and hiding is useless with DARPA's new smart bullet

By Salehuddin Bin Husin - on 29 Apr 2015, 3:02pm

Running and hiding is useless with DARPA's new smart bullet

Sniping might be an art now, but that might not be true in the future.

It's always been said that future war will be more like a video game than anything else. UAV drones will fill the skies, soldiers in powered armor fill the battlefield, carrying guns that can shoot and see through walls, with snipers that never miss their shots. Well, that last part is getting closer to reality every second.

With smart guns starting to emerge from big name arms manufacturers, it's only natural for the bullet to evolve as well. DARPA's done that with its EXACTO (Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordinance) rounds project. Despite its weird name, the EXACTO rounds are frighteningly effective. Take a look for yourself.

That's right, if you've watched or read the Wanted movie or comics, the video would look like something out straight out of that series. It's a bullet that's able to change its trajectory mid-flight and hit the target even if it moves. Even more impressive, it seems as if training has no effect on the accuracy of the bullet, as even a first time shooter is able to guide the bullet to the target with precision.

So what's the logic behind a homing bullet? The EXACTO round isn't exactly meant for conventional use, so basic infantry will still have to rely on their manual aiming. Instead the round is created specifically for snipers. Snipers not only have to account for distance, they also have to take into account the wind, bullet drop and a host of other factors to successfully make a long distance shot. With the EXACTO round, much of the calculations are rendered moot as the sniper literally points and shoots at the intended target.

DARPA understandably hasn't divulged any information of how the tech works. We don't know if the bullets are controlled by the sniper, if it requires a special gun or even when they'll be used in the field. Just be aware that if you're in a battlefield in the future and you hear a sniper rifle being fired, running might not exactly be the best thing you can do.

Source: DARPA

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