Metal Storm continues to market in the US

October 13, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Australia, Industry Analysis, Metal Storm, Promotions, S&T, development program 

The Army of the United States Association (AUSA) held their national convention last week. One of the key parts of this is exhibits by a large number of defense contractors, big and little. Metal Storm the Australian company that is developing rapid fire electronic gun systems attended. They have received some contracts with the US Military to work on their systems. Metal Storm uses multiple barrel system with a stack of ammunition in them. By firing electronically they can launch all of the ready rounds very quickly. Rates of fire for their larger systems are very impressive and their is a lot of potential for them. No nation yet has committed a large sum to buying these systems, which range in size from 9mm to 40mm; although it is probably scalable to larger rounds.

See the press release at MarketWatch.com.

Here is a link to the demonstration video they used at AUSA.

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Army continues investment in Excalibur

September 6, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Australia, Contract Awards, Raytheon, U.S. Army, production program 

The Excalibur is a 155 mm artillery round fired by the standard Army gun systems, both towed and self-propelled. When the program started in the Eighties the plan was to use laser guidance for terminal homing. Excalibur now uses GPS guidance, like the Joint Directed Air Munition (JDAM) used so successfully over the last seven years in Iraq and Afghanistan. The round also has extended range over older, more conventional ammunition. Raytheon was awarded a production contract for the US and Australia. The value is about $85 M.

The press release is at the Phoenix Business Journal.

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