On Discovery Channel last night, they exposed the magnificent invention called Metal Storm. It is the latest weapon technology invented of course to fit the purpose of winning in war battle.

Metal storm technology is an electronically initiated, stacked projectile system that removes the mechanical elements required to fire conventional weapons. Effectively, the only moving parts in Metal Storm technology are the projectiles themselves. Multiple projectiles are stacked in each barrel. The technology allows each projectile to be fired sequentially from each barrel.

How it Works?

Metal Storm stacks its projectiles in the barrels nose to tail. Metal Storm technology achieves its unique performance by having the ability to fire each round independent of the other. In other words when the propellant of one round in the stack is ignited the other rounds are not affected.

Rather than using a firing pin impacting on a primer, Metal Storm weapons are electronically fired. A computerized fire control system precisely controls the firing signal to each round in the barrel. As there is no need to mechanically reload the barrel after each round is fired, Metal Storm has complete control over the timing and rate of fire. As a result, the weapon can be used to deliver a single round or dozens of rounds instantaneously at the target. Moreover, when combined with airburst munitions, Metal Storm weapons can use precisely timed firing to create a pattern of fragmentation and blast to meet specific needs, such as to intercept an incoming RPG or missile.

Due to the light weight of Metal Storm barrels, most non-infantry configurations use multiple barrels, usually between 4 and 64. This provides increased firepower and the ability to mix munitions - to have a weapon configured to respond to different threats in different ways - such as having less than lethal or marker rounds instantly available as an alternative to the use of lethal force.

Today, Metal Storm converts conventional munitions warheads, such as 40mm grenades, into Metal Storm munitions by attaching a special Metal Storm tailpiece, containing the propellant and primer. With this approach, Metal Storm can quickly adapt the certified warheads preferred by its customers to be used in a Metal Storm weapon system.

The greatest part, it is remotely operated weapon (no need to be handled manually) – so, you won’t have to be afraid to be fired back by the enemies because you can leave the weapon there alone. Metal Storm technology is differentiated by a number of core elements including:

• Munitions stacked inside the barrel

• Electronically fired

• Provides the ability to group barrels in any configuration - from single barrel weapons to multi barrel pods

• High firepower to weight ratio

Core Advantages

The elements which differentiate Metal Storm technology provide for a number of key capability advantages not available from conventional weapon technology. These include:

• Increased lethality from conventional munitions warheads

• Cumulative effect of firepower

• Simultaneous delivery of different munitions

• Instant selectable choice of munitions

• Variable rates of fire

• Intense bursts of firepower - repeatable

• Scaled response

• Remote operation

Fully Reloadable

All Metal Storm weapon systems are fully reloadable. Reload options include fully individual round reload, a click together "stack" of rounds for multiple reload capability, or where required a reloadable multi shot cartridge is available.

Reloading Metal Storm technology is as straightforward and as simple as any other weapon system.

Greater Lethality

Lethality and the delivery of firepower onto a target are critical aspects in the application of firepower. The firing of current munitions in a different manner is a very significant way of creating an effect on target and improving/enhancing lethality. This is a hallmark of Metal Storm technology, with lethality being improved in the following manner:

• Cumulative effect of firepower. Because all rounds are stacked in the barrel and fired electronically, Metal Storm has the ability to deliver munitions at extremely high rates of fire - but it's not about quantity. For example, four rounds of 40mm HE munition all delivered onto a target at the same time provides a much greater effect than four rounds hitting the target one behind the other, 20 feet apart. When 4 Metal Storm fired munitions hit the target at almost the same time, which can be repeated, the lethality of those warheads is increased markedly through the unique delivery of that firepower.

• Lethality is also enhanced through greater control of fire missions and the ability to almost instantly select different munitions for different targets. Fully selectable fire missions can be configured ranging from a single shot through to multiple shots. These fire missions may be in the form of a small curtain of fire, a swarm of munitions or convex or concave shaped multiple munitions. All these capabilities provide a cumulative lethality effect much greater than several single 40mm munitions arriving individually.

• Metal Storm technology provides the ability to fire munitions onto a target in groups of any size, shape and sequence in much greater proportion to the size of the weapon. The technology allows single and multi barrel weapon systems to apply significant firepower onto a target compared to conventional weapons; thus providing a high firepower to weight ratio. For example, the equivalent of a 6kg munition can be delivered in 12 pieces but provides the lethality effect on target of all 6kg at once.

Reference:

[1] Discovery Channel (2010).

[2] Metal Storm Ltd (2010). What is Metal Storm Technology. Web. Retrieved on June 23, 2010. Url: http://www.metalstorm.com/content/view/64/109/

[3] Metal Storm Ltd (2010). Features and Benefits. Web. Retrieved on June 23, 2010. Url: http://www.metalstorm.com/content/view/66/110/