Gizmodo: missile

200MPH Bike Uses US Military Cruise Missile Engines

Jesus Diaz — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:20:00 EDT

200mph in 7.887 seconds. That and liquified brains when you smash against a concrete wall is what this superbike will get you. I wish we could see the end of the run in this fiery video.

Each of its J402-CA-702 Model 373 turbines—originally used in cruise missiles—have 1,000 pounds of trust. [Techeblog via Dvice]

What it Looks Like When a Predator Drone Vaporizes People

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST

If you ever wondered how it looks to obliterate a group of alleged terrorists from an unmanned air vehicle, this video is your answer. What you see here is a group of people trying to put together an improvised explosive device in Iraq, only to be vaporized by a Hellfire missile launched from a Predator. No wonder why those UAV crews are so stressed: They absolutely, definitely need new Nvidia graphic cards. I would add the cost of the upgrades to the Death and Taxes poster.

Wiimote Mod Adds IR Targeting To USB Missile Launcher

John Mahoney — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:40:00 EDT

Using the Wiimote's IR sensor elegantly duct taped in place, Instructables user toelle was able to mod everyone's favorite USB toy to launch precision, infrared-guided attacks, just like the big boys (kind of). Using a custom script which looks for IR sources to aim at, you can lay down precision fire by, say, putting your TV remote with the buttons taped down next to the cat. Or attach a small remote to the cat—now we're talking. [Instructables]

Lockheed's Multiple Kill Vehicle-L Missile Will Get All the MIRVs

Kit Eaton — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:15:00 EDT

Anti-missile systems have popped up often on Giz, but until now none of them have promised what Lockheed Martin's excellently-named Multiple Kill Vehicle-L will do: tackle all the threats inside an ICBM. Each ICBM contains a bunch of Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicles, some containing genuine warheads, some dummies to confuse defense systems.

The new MKV-L will be able to take out an ICBM and all of its MIRVs long before they could do any damage, and Lockheed just announced an important milestone in its development: they've calibrated the infrared pathfinder seekers. These are the clever gizmos at the heart of the MKV-L that'll let it track those multiple targets. Next up: testing prototypes in the air and the lab, with an aim of in-operation date of 2017. [Cnet News]

Georgian UAV Films its Own Demise in Russian MiG Attack

Kit Eaton — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:54:45 EDT

Apparently the latest twist in an ongoing tussle over separatist Abkhazia, this video shows an "unarmed, umanned aerial vehicle" belonging to the Georgian Interior Ministry performing "basic reconnaissance over Georgian territory," according to the Georgians. Whether or not you believe the details in that statement, it's pretty hard to argue with what happens at around 30 seconds into the clip. A Russian MiG29 fighter aircraft shows up, looses off an air to air missile and blows the UAV out of the sky ... on camera. Though we imagine the political fallout is going to be messy, the sight of the missile streaking toward the lens is both chilling and awe-inspiring. [Danger Room]

Video of Spy Satellite Getting Shot Down

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:06:40 EST

Watch as General Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (and apparently Jack Bauer's older brother) shows how the Lockheed Martin's Aegis missile launches and successfully destroys the rogue spy satellite. This is a huge success for the Pentagon and the anti-missiles system that was first conceived in the mid-80s as part of President Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative. Specially after many critics were saying it wasn't going to work.

The mission was simple. At 10:26PM EST, a standard missile 3 carrying a kinetic warhead was launched northwest of Hawaii from the USS Lake Eire, a Ticonderoga Class missile defense cruiser. 24 minutes later, at 10:50, the Joint Space Operations Center at the Vandenberg Air Force base confirmed the breakup of the satellite at 153 nautical miles above the Earth from a direct hit.

While they can't confirm completely the destruction of the tank, which was needed to release the toxic fuel that may have posed a danger to us Earthlings, the Pentagon has declared the mission a complete success and with good reason. Some experts criticized the plan as probable failure during the past days, with the argument that the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, part of the Ballistic Missile Defense System being developed by the US Missile Defense Agency, wasn't designed to do this and, therefore, it wasn't going to be able to hit the target and destroy it effectively.

Their reasons were three: first, the kinetic warhead, launched in a long range standard missile 3, a isn't designed to destroy targets by explosion but by the sheer force of multiple impacts. While this is enough to destroy other incoming missiles, the critics said that this wasn't going to be enough to destroy the much larger satellite. Second was the speed of the target, which was traveling at double the speed of the missiles which are the usual target of the Aegis. And third, the tracking system, which wasn't originally designed to operate in high orbits.

The video, however, shows that the direct kinetic hit has completely obliterated its target. Now the world can rest at peace. Until A542B, that asteroid ten times bigger than Texas, finally arrives. [Wikipedia, Defense Tech Org and BBC]

DIY AIM-9 Sidewinder Air to Geek Missile Lamp

Sean Fallon — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:00:13 EST

After all of this talk about the Pentagon preparing to blow a spy satellite out of the sky, missiles have never been hotter. So it is high time you got a piece of the action with this AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile floor lamp. Unfortunately, you can not purchase the lamp in one piece—it has to be built from an instruction kit—although the results look to be worth the effort. A video of the lamp in action is available after the break.

For anyone willing to put in the serious amount of time it will take to piece this lamp together, the kit contains instructional videos and manuals, templates, and decals. Expect to pay around $60 for parts on top of the $20 it costs for the kit itself. All in all, $80 is a small price to pay for a lighting solution this awesome. [Roger Dodger via TFTS]

USB MSN Missile Launcher Ads Video Streaming to Office Warfare

Mark Wilson — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:36:39 EST

We've been following USB missile launcher development for some time now. And what we have witnessed today, ladies and gentleman, may be the greatest watershed moment in USB armament history. The USB MSN Missile Launcher features a webcam that, when coupled with MSN messaging service, allows your friends to shoot you from anywhere in the world. Wait a second...does that sound backwards to anyone else?

We're guessing that the ultimate idea is for both ends of an IM chat to have access to USB weaponry, firing one another's missiles in an odd sort of truce-fueled war...as if two opposing countries decided to attack themselves at will in order to save the trip. But we're guessing what was not said yet is that you can remotely control your own missiles as well, launching a full attack at coworkers while you stay home "sick" for the fifth time in a month. Just don't expect your MSN Missile Launcher to be fully functional upon your return.

We'll get you the full scoop during the missile launcher's official release at CES. Because we're sure that this specific research is why Gizmodo will be paying up the nose for a week of gambling, buffets and escorts. [cheeky via geekalerts]

Striker II: USB Laser Guided Missile Launcher

Mark Wilson — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 11:31:35 EST

We've preached the merits of USB missile launchers before, which is why this new product is such important news. The $50 Striker II is the "next generation" USB missile launcher, featuring a class 3 "laser guidance system" for better aiming.

You control the launcher through fully mod-ready PC software. But why no Mac support? We're not all pacifist, granola-eating, black mock turtle-wearing hippies. Oh wait. – Mark Wilson
Thanks GP!

Product Page [ninjagizmos]

USB Missile Launcher Reviewed (Verdict: Nobody's Getting Any Work Done)

Jason Chen — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:51:58 EST

How fun are these USB Missile Launchers? Very. A single launcher comes with 3 foam missiles, a three foot USB cable, sound effects, and a Windows XP control program. Once installed, you control the cannon with either your mouse or the arrow keys, and fire with the space bar.

We kinda wish they came with more missiles, since three is just going to get you maybe a minute and a half worth of pleasure. Nobody likes it when you've shot everything off after 90 seconds. But at $35, they're not too expensive. Buy a few and watch your productivity soar. Does soar mean go down? – Jason Chen

Product Page [Brando]

USB Missile Launcher Review [Notebook Review]