DARPA’s Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance program, or EXACTO, took part in a live fire demonstration of in-flight guided .50 caliber bullets.
DARPA’s Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance program, or EXACTO, took part in a live fire demonstration of in-flight guided .50 caliber bullets.
The bullets independently maneuver through the air after being fired and they successfully hit targets that were over a mile away.
The rounds changed their path in-flight, striking targets that were not lined up with the sniper rifles' original aim. The .50 caliber rounds utilize optical sighting technology and a real-time guidance system, allowing them to be used anytime during the day and night.
DAPRA explains the importance of the bullets noting, “It is critical that snipers be able to engage targets faster, and with better accuracy, since any shot that doesn’t hit a target also risks the safety of troops by indicating their presence and potentially exposing their location.”
The ammunition will also be extremely helpful when windy weather or moving targets make accurate shots far more difficult. The entire system is still in the prototype stage and will need to be further tested, but the smart rounds certainly have the potential to revolutionize rifle precision.
