Darpa Has New 21st Century Sniper Round

New Bullet Allows Snipers to Make “Impossible” Shots

It sounds like something out of the movie, The Matrix, but this new bullet is a product of advanced technology. It was developed by the U.S. military, and it has been tested in the field by Darpa, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Experts are saying it may be a game changer in the fight against ISIS terrorists.

What makes this bullet different than all the ones currently in use? Amazingly, this .50 caliber sniper round can actually change direction in mid-air, according to a recent article in The Daily Mail. That will make it possible for snipers to take and make shots that would previously have been impossible.

The video above was released by Darpa. It demonstrates this Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (Exacto) as the bullet changes direction in mid-air, tracking the movements of the target. Darpa also created the following infographic:

Darpa included the following comments on the new bullet:

For military snipers, acquiring moving targets in unfavorable conditions, such as high winds and dusty terrain commonly found in Afghanistan, is extremely challenging with current technology.

The system combines a manoeuverable bullet and a real-time guidance system to track and deliver the projectile to the target, allowing the bullet to change path during flight to compensate for any unexpected factors that may drive it off course.

Technology development in Phase II included the design, integration and demonstration of aero-actuation controls, power sources, optical guidance systems, and sensors.

The program’s next phase includes a system-level live-fire test and technology refinement to enhance and improve performance.

The new ammo will let snipers engage targets more quickly, more accurately, and with less risk to themselves. Darpa points out that a missed shot is a clue to a sniper’s location, but with this bullet they have a much broader range.

The Exaco also includes optical sighting technology that will extend the day and night time range over current sniper systems.

Darpa also said in the release:

Snipers can never plan when they are going to have the opportunity for anopen shot, and this bullet opens up possibilities for where and when they can shoot.

Currently, the record for the longest-ever kill is by Corporal Craig Harrison of the UK Household Cavalry, who killed two Taliban in November 2009 from 1.54 miles (22.4km). In a shot this long, the bullet will take close to 3 seconds for it to reach its target.

In bad weather, such long shots are impossible using today’s state-of-the-art systems. Bullets are subject to gravity, and the longer the shot, the closer to the group the bullet drops. This increase in poor weather. With the new technology, however, a sniper will be able to change the direction of the bullet, so if bad weather interferes with the trajectory, he will be able to adjust and compensate. If a gust of wind slams the bullet off its course, the sniper will be able to correct the problem.

Snipers will still need to receive a high level of training, as they do now. But with the system, they will have a tremendous advantage in the field, in terms of accuracy and range.