Unlike the Milkor, which is the classic grenade launcher, MetalStorm 3GL doesn't have multiple barrels. Just a single one, which is electronic controlled—running on two AA batteries that will last for the entire life of the barrel itself. That makes it half the weight of the Milkor, while using the same standard 40 x 46mm grenades, which can be quickly loaded in the barrel one after the other.

The barrel can launch 720 grenades a minute, which it's quite an unbelievable number. Of course, you can only feed it a small number of grenades, but it's quite still impressive. Too bad it's made to kill people. [Firearm Blog]

EMP grenade technology is out there, but I've never had my hands on one. The Army needs to have its own on-the-ground assets to complement our abilities, to get the enemy first or stop them from getting us on the ground.Electronic warfare is going to be fought on the ground, not just in the air, and you have to have an attack from the ground point of view.

Those are the words of Col. Laurie Buckhout, chief of the new Electronic Warfare Division, Army Operations, Readiness and Mobilization, during a conference in Washington last Tuesday. Buckhout-who I can only imagine looks like Starbuck-said that they need selective ground electronic attacks because attacks from the air or ground with jammers can interfere with friendly signals as well. Using portable jammers or EMP grenades, then can take out the enemy electronic capacity as needed, with less problems than wide attacks. [DODBuzz]

Which is, of course, interestingly ironic since the Abrams M1 typically doesn't use reactive armor, neither does its UK equivalent main battle tank the Challenger 2—they rely on advanced solid armor instead. And you'd need either a very lucky strike, or many impacts to seriously damage one of these beasts with any type of RPG. Russian tanks, like the T72 and T80, on the other hand, do rely on reactive armor and sometimes employ active defense systems like Arena. Would be interesting to see the RPG-30 pitted against the Future Combat System's Quick Kill defenses, don't you think?

Still, makers Bazalt got some military chaps to demonstrate the system recently on TV:[Wired]

When your pasty, sweaty hand is gripping this instrument of death turned into a cuddly gadget, enduring the minor misery in your lower arm caused its frankly horrifying ergonomics, you'll feel like a badass. You totally won't be, but for that brief second, it's not like anyone could tell you any differently. Except for you know, Rambo, who would punch your heart out. [Modding.ru via technabob]

"Oohh, baby."
"I'll light some candles."
"How romantic. Now come over-WAIT."
"What?"
"I told you before, no more Vietnam reenactments in the bedroom."

Made from real ammunition, the Hand Grenade Oil Lamp is really a must-buy. And all this fun will only set you back $50.

"But I went commando all day!" – Mark Wilson

Product Page [via redferret]

Hand Grenade Oil Lamp [Elsewares, via The Uber-Review]

Ear-splitting "sonic grenade" for waking oversleepers [BoingBoing]