Electronic bullet. Invisible bullet: Russia presents unique samples of electronic weapons

On the creation by American scientists of the world's first homing bullet for small arms became known at the end of January this year. But then the case was limited to just a few lines of a press release, a couple of photographs and a short video of the shot. In order to find out about the new product, this is enough. But in order to form a full-fledged opinion and try to predict the prospects for a new ammunition, published information is clearly not enough. True, it is not enough only at first glance. If desired, and from the available information, appropriate conclusions can be drawn.

A press release from the Sandia National Laboratory says that the new ammunition, which took almost $ 15 million to create, can significantly increase the accuracy of shooting at distances in excess of a kilometer. The bullet is said to be controlled autonomously. To do this, in the nose of the bullet there is a special optical sensor that transmits the necessary signals to the control chip. The optical "homing head" searches for a laser mark on the target (the target is illuminated with a laser using a separate device) and allows the bullet electronics to determine the deviation from it. Depending on the situation at a particular moment in time, the microcircuit issues a command to the control surfaces of the guided bullet, and they bring the trajectory back to normal. According to the press release, the bullet can make up to 30 adjustments per second. It is also known that the bullet is intended for smoothbore weapons and has a length of about four inches (about 10 cm).

Little, very little information. But let's try to restore the whole picture with its help. First of all, let's pay attention to the dimensions of the cartridge with a guided bullet. A photograph showing a model of a cartridge with a cut has become publicly available. Using 4" bullet information, a ruler, and sixth grade math knowledge high school it is not difficult to calculate that the caliber of a bullet is approximately equal to 12.7 millimeters, .50 in foreign ammunition classification. In addition, the overall dimensions of the cartridges are almost the same as the standard 12.7x99 mm, which was created for the Browning M2 machine gun. From this, conclusions can be drawn about the possible types of weapons with which a guided bullet can be used. At the same time, do not forget that the designers from the Sandia Laboratories strongly recommend that the new bullet be fired exclusively from a smooth barrel. Probably, the introduction of a new cartridge into practice will require the creation of new weapons, including in the form of refinement of the existing one. For example, you can equip a Barrett M82 sniper rifle with a riflingless barrel and use it with a guided bullet. A noticeable deterioration in quality due to the lack of preliminary spin-up of the bullet will be offset by the presence of the latter's "brains" and control surfaces.

Now about the control system. Aiming at a target illuminated by a laser for a couple of decades is not something surprising and revolutionary new. This guidance principle is most often used in air-to-ground and ground-to-ground guided missiles. The system has long been worked out and improved as much as possible with a modern element base. Therefore, the use of just such a guidance method in a controlled pool is fully justified, although difficult in the light of the peculiarities of the use of large-caliber long-range small arms. Of particular interest are the actual flight controls. In the presented video, it is noticeable that after the bullet leaves the bore, some details are separated from it. Perhaps this is a pallet, as on sub-caliber shells. However, another version looks more plausible. A small disclaimer: it is impossible to speak with great confidence from the available video, because it is too short and the quality leaves much to be desired. Therefore, there is every reason to believe that the guided bullet is equipped with a stabilizer similar to that installed on Russian anti-tank grenades. As proof of this version, one can consider the characteristic "ribs" in the middle and rear parts of the bullet. Probably, when the bullet exits the barrel, they lean back under the action of the flow and provide guidance for the bullet. In addition, they give it rotation. However, questions are raised not only by the design of the stabilizer-rudders, but also by their drive. For example, anti-tank missiles use a variety of ways to change the angle of attack of the rudder. It can be an electromagnetic or even a gas engine. Judging by appearance bullet and its size, the guided munition from the Sandia Laboratory has precisely the electromagnetic control system. Obviously, it is impossible to fit a gas cylinder of appropriate capacity and strength into such small dimensions (it should not collapse when fired), and windows for air intake from the atmosphere are not visible on the pool. Accordingly, the deflection of the stabilizers-rudders should be carried out using ultra-small electric steering machines. In addition, such a scheme allows you to power the electronics and the drive of the rudders from a single current source. In conditions of extreme lack of space, such a solution is the most convenient.

Separately, it is worth dwelling on the methodology for ensuring bullet guidance. When using traditional unguided small arms ammunition, the shooter must make all the necessary calculations and shoot at the appropriate point before firing. When using a guided bullet, the procedure is slightly simplified. In this case, it is enough for the shooter to simply shoot at the target, not worrying about corrections and lead. Ensuring the necessary accuracy of the hit is entirely on the equipment: before the shot, the laser beam is aimed at the desired point of the target and only after that it is pressed trigger. It is interesting that such a procedure for using the new ammunition, if it goes to the troops, will not require significant changes in the training, equipment or combat work of snipers. Unless the "second number" will not only adjust the sniper's fire, but also directly participate in hitting targets, because it would be logical to entrust the illumination of the target with a laser to him.

On the this moment Sandia National Laboratory workers are not calling right now to adopt a new cartridge. They do not hide the fact that they still need to work and work on the project. And for that they need investors. Now the project of a guided bullet has already been worked out enough and it remains only to improve it. In particular, it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of guided munitions with "little bloodshed". Most of its cost now consists of a control chip and an optical sensor. This problem can be solved in the future original way, and again borrowed from anti-tank missiles. At one time, ATGM developers faced a similar problem: the electronic “stuffing” of missiles turned out to be too expensive and its one-time use was a real waste. Therefore, a very interesting solution was found a few decades ago. All guidance equipment was removed from the rocket, except for the rudders, their drives, and a radio control receiver was installed. Computers and other devices, in turn, were placed on the launcher. Thus, guidance began to be carried out according to an updated principle: the ATGM operator holds the enemy’s armored vehicle in sight and launches it. The launcher's optical sensor monitors a special tracer mounted on the rocket and transmits information to the computer, which makes corrections and issues a command to the rocket via a radio channel. As a result, all expensive equipment has become reusable. American engineers should pay attention to this system, because the main claim of potential customers to the controlled pool is its high cost. True, in this case, the rifle will have to be attached not only to a laser designator, but also to a special tracking system, calculating corrections and transmitting commands to the pool. The latter, accordingly, must be equipped with a tracer, by which the guidance system will find it. If the designers will have to tinker with the first task, then everything is simple with the tracer. The guided bullets currently being tested already have a special diode on the back. This was done so that during test firing it was possible to track the trajectory and analyze the course of the bullet's flight.

As you can see, the Sandia Laboratory has a fundamental opportunity not only to bring its guided bullet to perfection, but also to significantly improve it. If only the potential customer financed. Author Ryabov Kirill

The US Army is switching to EXACTO homing bullets. What is this breakthrough or the most useless military invention of the 21st century? DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is an agency of advanced defense research projects The USA is the customer of the EXACTO project. According to the developers, a new type of bullet will help snipers hit moving objects in almost any weather conditions, without revealing the exact position of the shooter. How innovative is this development, and most importantly, how practical is it? AT exclusive interview Zvezda TV company, these questions were answered by Alexander Kozmin - head Design bureau"ORSIS" - the developer of the most modern sniper rifle in Russia. "There is nothing new in this development. Back in the 80s, a homing bullet was created in the UK. But she did not enter service. Why? The British decided that such technology was too expensive, but most importantly, its use in combat conditions already raised many questions then,” says Alexander Kozmin. What made the Pentagon return to the “well-forgotten old”? It is reported that the first work on the system of high-precision safe sniping was started at the end of 2008. The US defense department signed a contract for the development of the EXACTO project with Teledyne Technologies, the contract was signed at the end of 2010. “US military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq revealed that the effectiveness sniper units very low. main reason it was not considered human factor, a sandy winds. As a matter of fact, to solve this problem, they began to develop a new sniper rifle. The task of the new bullet is to hit the target in all weather conditions,” says sniper rifle designer Kozmin. The EXACTO project is a design development to create an “intelligent” bullet and a new sniper rifle. It's about about guided bullets of 50 caliber (12.7 mm). They are credited with fantastic capabilities. There is a video on YouTube in which you can see how a bullet fired along an incorrect trajectory suddenly corrects its flight and hits the target. These bullets are created within the framework of the EXACTO program. “There is nothing incredible about the fact that a bullet changes its trajectory. The question is, what targets should a homing bullet hit? The living force of the enemy? Light armored vehicles? My answer is that EXACTO will not be able to hit either one or the other,” says Alexander Kozmin. Prototypes of a “smart” bullet were first shown in 2012, but now the DARPA agency reports that it has improved the technology for their release. According to the developers, bullets of a new type will help snipers hit moving objects in almost any weather conditions, without disclosing the exact position of the shooter. “The invulnerability of the shooter is probably the most controversial or weakness EXACTO program,” Alexander Kozmin is sure. Principles of aiming fire at a target There are three principles of aiming fire: active, semi-active and passive. “Active - the target is illuminated from a flying projectile, in this case bullets are swept aside immediately, since it is unlikely that this kind of equipment can be placed in the pool, ”says Alexander Kozmin. It is reported that the EXACTO system will be not only a guided bullet, but also a large-caliber rifle and a special optical guidance system that will allow the shooter follow the flight of the bullet and correct its flight to the target. “This is a semi-active type of guidance. There is not a word in the widespread information that the sniper will need an assistant, but he will definitely be needed, since he himself will not be able to correct the bullet on the trajectory due to the fact that he needs to recover after the shot. The "pointing" function will include aiming a laser sight. Here is his fate, or rather life expectancy, causes great concern,” says Alexander Kozmin. “The flight time of a guided bullet, in my opinion, will be from 3 to 4 seconds. All this time the laser sight must be active. That is, the enemy will have more than enough time to install and subsequently destroy the EXACTO assistant, and, in addition, use protection, for example, spray an aerosol that blocks the laser beam, the designer of sniper rifles argues. In other words, “gunner fire" will most likely leave the battlefield first. What will the sniper himself be left with, and will he be able to continue active hostilities? “I think that such a rifle will weigh at least 12-15 kg. Given the size of the cartridge, and it is very large, a sniper's ammunition supply should weigh several kilograms. If the sniper loses the "gunner", then it will be very difficult for him to change his position, and this is a rule that will never be repealed. The weight of all ammunition will be about 20-25 kg, ”says a military expert. It turns out that a new homing bullet and sniper rifle US Army EXACTO when using active or semi-active fire guidance - unsuitable. But there remains one more option - passive or a “fire and forget” system. “In the case of a passive type of targeting, the bullet determines the target by thermal radiation, or sound, or other parameters. But the temperature of the human body, especially at large distances, differs little from the temperature environment, especially since additional disguise is possible. Thus, the American homing bullet has almost no chance of hitting the target on its own, ”says Kozmin. “And if we talk about the defeat light equipment, then the bullet must hit some least protected important element, for example, a track, triplex, antenna, etc., in contrast to a guided missile or projectile, which is enough to blow up near the target or at least hit it. The homing head of a bullet simply will not be able to distinguish it from the total mass of the target, ”says Alexander Kozmin. Technical characteristics of EXACTO - pros and cons It is reported that structurally "smart" bullet is similar to a dart. With the help of the information received from the guidance systems, the bullet is able to correct its flight with the help of aerodynamic elements, ensuring a confident hit of the target. According to the available information, the bullet prototype has a length of about 101 mm. An optical sensor is mounted on its tip, which fixes the spatial position of the light point, which is created by a laser beam, with which the bullet is aimed at the target. Inside the bullet is a special electronic control system that corrects the flight of the ammunition up to 30 times per second, using ultra-small actuators that control tiny stabilizers. At the same time, even at the end, it does not begin to sway like an ordinary bullet. And all this happens at high speed, which is 2 times the speed of sound. “Rather, it's not a bullet, but a small rocket. The complex electronic filling of the head, "feathering" and their control mechanisms will significantly reduce the size of the sleeve. The Americans say that it will be filled with super-energy gunpowder. But I have not heard of this, ”says Alexander Kozmin. According to the US military, the new sniper rifle, which will be created as part of the EXACTO project, will not be rifled. To ensure the accuracy of the battle and the range of the bullet, among other things, high-energy gunpowder will have to. The use of such gunpowder will allow the ammunition to be accelerated to supersonic flight speeds. “The EXACTO project promises to give a heavy bullet two speeds of sound. The Pentagon already has a sniper rifle in service, the bullet speed of which is three speeds of sound - this is .50BMG. To disperse a new homing bullet, a large sleeve will be required, which will negatively affect the size and mass of the weapon as a whole, ”the military designer argues. At the same time, the effect of such bullets on the target is not completely clear. The thing is that during maneuvering on the trajectory, especially if it is active, as well as in the presence of strong wind, ammunition is guaranteed to lose kinetic energy. And this, in turn, will mean a decrease in the lethality and stopping power of the bullet. Issue price The amount of the agreement between the Pentagon and Teledyne Technologies was $25 million. The high-precision sniper complex created within the framework of this program should hit not only stationary targets in difficult weather conditions, but also objects moving at high speed. As part of the first design stage, DARPA and Teledyne Technologies carried out computer simulation of an adjustable bullet and came to the conclusion about the possibility development of this ammunition. At the second stage, the company created and tested a number of new ammunition samples. At the same time, very few details are known regarding these tests. “The so-called laboratory experiments, and the use of weapons in combat conditions, are two big differences. I am absolutely sure that the real tests - i.e. in conditions close to real combat operations, if EXACTO passes, then additional questions and problems will certainly arise, which will significantly increase the cost of new weapons, the feasibility of using which is already a big question,” Kozmin said. The design features of the bullet, which assumes the use of overload-resistant electronics, aerodynamic stabilizers, rudders and control servos, remain unclear to the end. In this case, most of these elements should be inside the body of the ammunition. This condition leads to an increase in the length of the bullet, and hence the final dimensions of the 12.7 mm caliber cartridge. To use this ammunition, the military will need a new large-caliber rifle. However, it is assumed that the American promising EXACTO sniper complex will be fully ready and will enter service with the US Army in 2015. Photo: sandia.gov

Sandia National Laboratories (USA) invented a dart-like feathered homing bullet for small-caliber smoothbore firearms. It is capable of hitting a laser-illuminated target at a distance of 2,000 m.

The track from the bullet LED, which plays the role of a tracer during night tests, twists slightly into a semi-spiral. (Photos here and below by Sandia Laboratories.)

Now the manufacturer is looking for a private partner to complete prototype testing and enter the market. Red Jones, one of the developers of the novelty, said that the bullet is made exclusively from components available on the market, which means that serial and not too expensive production can be set up very quickly. It is assumed that the new ammunition will seduce the military, the police and just those who like to shoot.

Structurally, a homing bullet is a 10-cm ammunition with an optical sensor in the bow. The latter is responsible for tracking the spot from the backlight laser beam. The sensor sends information to the control and guidance unit, and that (8-bit processor) issues commands to the electromagnetic actuators. It is they who deflect the tiny stabilizers that guide the bullet right on target.

The principle of a feathered bullet fired from a smoothbore weapon is used, according to Mr. Jones, for the sake of simplifying the design. Indeed, to provide a controlled flight of a rotating projectile fired from rifled barrel, would be much more difficult.

The center of gravity of the bullet is in its head, and the small stabilizers are in the tail, which guarantees a stable trajectory (just remember how the dart flies). Computer aerodynamic modeling, the researcher notes, shows that the use of such a design will lead to a sharp increase in the accuracy of fire. So, dispersion for a conventional bullet (unnamed, alas, characteristics) at a kilometer range will be 9 m, and for a homing (according to the patent application) - 20 cm.

The plastic case that protects the thin stabilizers is ejected after the bullet leaves the barrel.

Perhaps the key feature of the novelty is the absence of a gyro stabilizer (which, of course, could significantly increase the cost of the product). The researchers argue that due to the small size of the bullet - in comparison with homing missiles - such an element is simply not needed. Why? - The rocket propels itself, and this greatly stabilizes its flight compared to a projectile fired from a muzzle weapon. Therefore, trajectory corrections are made by its control mechanism less frequently, but must be very accurate. However, the homing bullet tilts slightly and rotates on its own course: its mass is small, and it does not have its own engine. The bullet deviates from the trajectory 30 times per second. This is usually bad, as it reduces accuracy. But in the case of a homing munition, this allows its small stabilizers to make thirty adjustments per second.

Tests have shown that the stabilizers are functional at speeds up to 732 m/s using freely available gunpowder. The inventors are convinced that specially selected gunpowder can provide standard speeds for military firearms.

What else? The video shows that at the edge of the barrel the bullet seriously deviates from the trajectory, but later stabilizes - as experts say, "falls asleep". The authors attribute to the important advantages of the bullet its “high aerodynamic quality”, due to stabilizers, which create additional lift and prolong the flight. It can also be expected that with the use of other gunpowders, the maximum range shooting.

Ten centimeters long, plastic sleeve, stabilizers hidden in it, electronic control...

By the way. Did you know that in a typical military conflict, 10,000 to 50,000 bullets would have to be used to hit a target? For example, the Red Army spent 17 billion rounds of ammunition in the Great Patriotic War, which fits into these figures. Moreover, according to statistics, almost all hits fell on snipers, and an ordinary infantryman missed in 99.999% of cases. With the total armament of individual automatic means, the situation with aiming has deteriorated significantly. In all the armies of the world. The current Stars and Stripes fighter spends $100,000 on ammo just to kill or wound one opponent, so the use of homing bullets is more than justified economically.

Russia has presented the first information about the new weapon, which has no analogues in the world. According to representatives of the United Instrument-Making Corporation, the new electronic-based weapon is capable of suppressing the on-board equipment of aircraft, drones and high-precision weapons. How Russia delivers a radio strike on a mock enemy - in the material.

During the "ArmHitech-2016" exhibition, representatives of the defense industry complex told reporters that Russia had successfully tested the latest electronic weapons which has no analogues in the world yet. Weapons of this type are capable of hitting enemy vehicles at a great distance with the help of directed energy. Representatives of the defense industry said that the system provides a directed energy impact on the onboard equipment of aircraft, drones and high-precision weapons.

"The peculiarity of such weapons is that they are able to neutralize enemy equipment without the use of traditional projectiles, but with the help of directed energy, that is, it makes an indirect physical impact on the on-board equipment of aircraft, drones and neutralizes precision weapons", - said the representative of the company.

If you look at the latest developments in the military-industrial complex, then 2016 stands out sharply in this regard in terms of developments unique weapons, which has a non-standard principle of operation - radio-electronic, electromagnetic, induction and even laser. Russia and the United States are the leading countries in the development of non-standard types of weapons: for example, some types of weapons have already been adopted by the RF Armed Forces laser weapons, and in the USA they successfully passed the tests of the railgun - a rail electromagnetic gun.

However, how promising is the field of radio-electronic developments now? Oleg Valetsky, an expert from the Center for Strategic Market Research, answered this question. As the expert notes, radio electronics is a broad enough industry for possible developments, and should be a priority.

“Electronics is the leading branch of the military-industrial complex. If we proceed from the same American strategy and tactics, then almost all of their battlefield surveillance is carried out with the help of electronic intelligence and with the help of sea and land-based electronic systems,” notes Oleg Valetsky. – In connection with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, this electronics is actively used to suppress the signal of radio-controlled explosive devices.There is also a global electronic intelligence system "Echelon", which was developed by the United States, Great Britain and Australia to intercept communications.The United States conducts intelligence within the framework of the SIGINT system - a special direction to intercept signals Email, telephone conversations, for radio interception".

Meanwhile, as Oleg Valetsky notes, it is not yet known exactly how the new Russian development will work - information about the intricacies of the work of the new weapon is kept in the strictest confidence, and it is very difficult to determine both the principle of operation and what the new military-industrial complex electronic system will be used for. .

"It has not yet been determined what kind of electronic weapons they are. Electronic weapons can be different - these are radar installations, these are systems electronic warfare, active and passive radio blockers. All this is still vague, and it is unclear whether this is electronic intelligence, or what. So far, only information has passed - and it is very difficult to determine what they specifically invented," the expert notes.

Sandia National Laboratory (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA) is a division of Sandia Corporation, which in turn is a division of Lockheed Martin Corporation. And in the bowels of this laboratory, a group of engineers designed and tested a homing bullet capable of hitting targets at a distance of 2 km.

The bullet resembles a dart for playing darts, 101.6 mm long. Like a dart, the bullet has tiny stabilizers, an optical sensor in the nose, an 8-bit processor, and an electromagnetic actuator to correct the bullet's flight path. The bullet prototype was assembled from components and parts that are already being produced by the industry.

According to one of the engineers involved in the creation of a homing bullet, "This technology is very promising, while not expensive." What is surprising is that, as a division of such a large corporation, this laboratory is looking for private partners to complete prototype testing and start bringing homing bullets to the market.

Night shooting with a homing bullet. The bullet flies with a built-in LED that shows its trajectory very clearly and how it is being corrected.

Shooting a bullet is carried out from a smooth-bore weapon, however, what kind of weapon is not specified. Perhaps the weapon does not even exist, but there is a barrel bolt group and a trigger mechanism.

Unlike missiles that use gyroscopes, the missile's trajectory is corrected only with the help of stabilizers, while the target must be illuminated by a laser beam. Flight trajectory correction occurs at a frequency of up to 30 times per second.

To protect the bullet while moving in the barrel, a detachable casing is used, similar to a detachable pallet for sub-caliber shells (this can be seen in the video). Tests have shown that the bullet retains controllability when moving at a speed of 730 meters per second (2 times the speed of sound).

According to the developers of the homing bullet, such a bullet will be in demand by the military, police and entertainment enthusiasts.