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2RHPZ
05-22-2004, 02:36 AM
Shoulder Fired Capability Extends Metal Storm's 40mm Calibre Development

Arlington, VA - Apr 28, 2004

Metal Storm Limited has expanded its generic 40mm weapon system with the test firing of a shoulder fired, single barrel, multi shot weapon, which enables a soldier to repeatedly engage a moving target without reloading.Metal Storm Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Charles Vehlow, said the development of the shoulder fired, four shot Electronic Grenade System reinforced the company's technology development focus on the critically important 40mm caliber.
"The outcome is a natural progression of our Metal Storm 40mm Ballistic System development and draws on recent achievements from the company's internal technical development program, particularly the work being done as part of the planned firing demonstrations in the US in coming months," Mr. Vehlow said.
The Electronic Grenade System utilizes the same lightweight non-metallic material and multi shot cartridge that formed part of other Metal Storm 40mm Ballistic System developments announced by the company in March this year.
Mr Vehlow said that the Electronic Grenade System highlighted the portability of the company's 40mm Ballistic System development between various applications, including those used for unmanned ground vehicles, UAVs, access denial systems and shoulder fired weapons.
"Metal Storm is very focused on developing specific product applications which have the best commercial potential, and which are capable of producing numerous product applications from the company's core 40mm development program," Mr Vehlow said.
Metal Storm will apply the test outcomes in the development of a more advanced system, including increased firepower, rapid reload and a recoiling barrel design. The advanced system is intended to fire a range of different types of grenades, including stun, high explosive, and less-than-lethal. Metal Storm expects that future shoulder fired systems will be developed as a clip on/off attachment for existing military small arms.
Metal Storm Granted Three Important New Patents in the US

The securing of patents in the US provides Metal Storm with exclusive control of the unique technology contained in each patent.
The three patents include technology covering:
+ Independently controlled barrels within a multi barrel, transportable pod system. This enables each barrel to have a specific individual target such as zones in a land mine area or as part of a fire fighting system. The patent covers off both commercial and military applications.
+ An alternative projectile sealing system for single and multi barrel use.
+ Use of Metal Storm technology in seismic exploration through the use of a single barrel or pod system to create underground shockwaves at required frequencies. The technology is able to be mounted and used from vehicles and aircraft.
Metal Storm's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Charles Vehlow said, these patents, particularly the first two, relate directly to the company's current R&D effort to commercialize or license products into the US military and civil markets. These three patents add to the 12 already granted to Metal Storm in the US with more pending in relation to the company's technology.
"The patents form part of an expanding portfolio of patents which secure our technology and our commercial future. I expect equivalent patents to be granted in a number of other countries shortly," said Mr Vehlow.
Metal Storm Receives New Orders from General Dynamics

And in other news Metal Storm has received new orders totaling US$538,000 from General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD - News), for its subsidiary ProCam to manufacture high precision assemblies to be used in tactical missile systems and helicopter airbags.
Metal Storm's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Charles Vehlow stated, "These contracts highlight the high regard which General Dynamics and other defense contractors have for our capabilities and expertise in specialist manufacturing engineering."

Company homepage with some promo videos at:
http://www.metalstorm.com/

Herrmannek
05-22-2004, 06:25 AM
I like metal storm technology..limited in many ways, but still nice idea

Shadow
05-22-2004, 07:24 AM
The Metalstorm technology is crap. Not very accurated and wastes ammo like hell. Maybe the ROF is 230000 Bullets/min, but you only got around 1000-2000 or more in the barrels. And for the AA role i can say every modern AA gun is 10 times better then a metal storm, how do you want to change directions while you are fireing? Good luck with reloading a metal storm you will have to do this very often because you can only fire 100ms, what if you missed you target? **** happens.

Haiw
05-22-2004, 07:59 AM
Good luck with reloading a metal storm you will have to do this very often because you can only fire 100ms, what if you missed you target? **** happens.
That's what they have computers for... ;)

Herrmannek
05-22-2004, 09:12 AM
The Metalstorm technology is crap. Not very accurated and wastes ammo like hell. Maybe the ROF is 230000 Bullets/min, but you only got around 1000-2000 or more in the barrels. And for the AA role i can say every modern AA gun is 10 times better then a metal storm, how do you want to change directions while you are fireing? Good luck with reloading a metal storm you will have to do this very often because you can only fire 100ms, what if you missed you target? **** happens.

Thechnology has potenitail because it will probably shot from light disposable launchers so no reloading just put that automatic mortars wehrever you need , aim them, leave the area, launh them, and wait for enemies response onto few spended fiberglasses tubes.....

Tony Williams
05-22-2004, 01:51 PM
I am very sceptical about the practical usefulness of MS technology, but IMO the shoulder-fired grenade launcher (either by itself ir attached to a rifle) is the most promising, as it provides a multi-shot capability without all of the weight and complication of an autoloader.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website (http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk) and Discussion forum (http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/messages/)

Herrmannek
05-22-2004, 02:37 PM
I am very sceptical about the practical usefulness of MS technology, but IMO the shoulder-fired grenade launcher (either by itself ir attached to a rifle) is the most promising, as it provides a multi-shot capability without all of the weight and complication of an autoloader.


I wouldn't be very sceptical :), just realist. Bigest adavantage of MS is no moving parts, no reloading and quite big voulume of fire from one single simple tube. Everything that should be disposable yet still need to shoot many rounds, esspecialy slow speed like grenades, mines etc is future for MS...

Haiw
05-23-2004, 06:02 PM
I am very sceptical about the practical usefulness of MS technology, but IMO the shoulder-fired grenade launcher (either by itself ir attached to a rifle) is the most promising, as it provides a multi-shot capability without all of the weight and complication of an autoloader.


I wouldn't be very sceptical :), just realist. Bigest adavantage of MS is no moving parts, no reloading and quite big voulume of fire from one single simple tube. Everything that should be disposable yet still need to shoot many rounds, esspecialy slow speed like grenades, mines etc is future for MS...
Multi-shot disposable anti-tank weapons?

Michael RVR
05-23-2004, 09:56 PM
Anti-Tank rounds are probably a bit big to be used like that.. unless its actually mounted on an AFV ;)

Which in itself a not so silly idea, but i'm not sure if it'd be effective compared to whats already out there.

Herrmannek
05-24-2004, 11:03 AM
Multi-shot disposable anti-tank weapons?

Rather not, as RVR said ATs are much more advanced wepons and they doesn't need to be multi-shot capable. I was thinking more about user-wise team served artilery(100mm and less) with doesn't put threat for operators using them and its loss isn't painfull or even is demanded. Just set/aim multimuniton-tubes at designed target, get out of da place push red button, wait 30sek. look at enemy positions showered with tens of rounds at one time and enemy response of anti-artilery artilely nivelating some rocks with only few smoking tubes lying on the ground, while you are enaging attacked enemy or seting new sets of "tubes"...

Haiw
05-24-2004, 11:15 AM
2nd try then: Multi-shot disposable thermobaric weapons? Great fun in urban combat. :P

*boom boom boom boom boom* ...and so much for that village. :lol:

Durandal
05-26-2004, 08:14 PM
I have to admit that I thought Metal Storm was full of BS when I started reading about them, what...two years ago or so.

It seems that have received some large amounts of funding condsidering the projects they have going on.

Right now I can see a variety of possible future applications for their stuff.

I have to say that to ignore what they are doing is probably not the smartest thing in the world to do.

Mr Gently Benevolent
05-27-2004, 10:14 AM
I felt the same way as you Durandal when I saw their pistol I just thought nah that ain't practical but throw enough money at wild ideas and you can sometimes get very positive results.

Durandal
05-27-2004, 10:32 AM
I can definately see some uses for the products theyy are working on right now.

The Navy, for example, has ALWAYS had p[roblems with their CIWS, you do not hear much about it (my Uncle's friend is in Radar and Aquisition for a defense contractor and we discussed it over cocktails one night in D.C.). Current Naval CIWS systems suck. Period. They have aquisition issues and simple are unable to track seaskiming targets through bounce in moderate (rough) seas. On smooth water, no problem, but through an disturbance (wind, waves) even if their are no swells and radar just gets bounce form each little whitecap.

So, if you cannot track with a large caliber Vulcan, why not LITERALLY throw up a wall of lead slaved to some sort of visual tracking? Metal storm wouold be perfect for this.

Just an off the wall example...

Mr Gently Benevolent
05-27-2004, 11:31 AM
I remember they tried a device that threw up a wall of water that in tests could destroy smaller guided weapons. I think it was really for vessels working in near shore environments and it was found to be most effective if deployed from the stern or stern-quarters. It looked very much like mine field clearing device that resembles a large diameter braided rope.