Self-aiming sniper rifles coming next year
Posted: Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:06:30
I hate the way Fox is reporting that story. Way overselling it. It just completed the first phase. I.e. it was demonstrated to be technically feasible. LM got a contract to hopefully improve SWaP, which should yield field testable units. Other resources I've seen earlier this year suggested that no one would see a actual operator testable unit until closer to 2015.
Also, it should be noted that the system is not passive. It uses a laser to get range and determine wind. Great idea and useful, but it won't take long for someone to build a detector for that laser. It works today because the lasers wave length was chosen to be outside current military bands.
Great idea, love the R&D, but I can't stand when reporters are suggesting it will be in our troops hands next year. Phase 2 of R&D does not mean ready for production. That is also why you can't find any pictures of it mounted to a sniper rifle...it is too big and heavy at the moment (the media is using generic, sometimes not even sniper related pics if you notice).