Selective Target-Actuated Firearm

    CRITICAL COMPONENTS

    •  Electrically-actuated rifle (or retrofit M-16)

    •  Uncooled high performance IR radiometer
        focal plane array

THE PROBLEM: 200,000 small-arms rounds per enemy casualty in Vietnam

THE CONSEQUENCE:

•  SOLDIER LETHALITY is low:
    he almost never hits anything

•  SOLDIER BURDEN is high:
    200,000 rounds is 2 tons physically carried into battle

•  AMMUNITION COST is high:
    200,000 rounds cost approximately $40,000.

•  LOGISTICS BURDEN -
    after soldier transport - is dominated by ammunition resupply

THE SOLUTION: electrically-fired rifle, actuated only when bullet will hit the target. Soldier selects target, aims, and no shot is wasted. Or he just holds down the trigger and sweeps the free-fire zone... and anything warm becomes nonbelligerant.

5 shots in 5 seconds. 5 casualties
without sniper training,
without $20,000 IR scope,
knee-walking drunk.