Gizmodo: sniper

Pentagon's New "Suburb Warrior" UAVs Promise to Try to Kill Slightly Fewer Civilians

Dan Nosowitz — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:30:00 EDT

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.The Pentagon's current crop of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are insanely powerful—the "Hellfire" is so named for a reason—but also fairly imprecise, often killing innocent, nearby civilians. The DoD's new UAVs hope to cut down on such casualties.

In a recent briefing, the Department of Defense laid out its new plans: Smaller and far more precise UAVs with badass names like "Suburb Warrior" and "Sniper" that will hunt in groups, rather than just blowing suspected hideouts to pieces with Hellfire missiles. The Suburb Warrior, for example, is designed to fire volleys of mini-missiles in tight formation, which makes a nice change from previous missiles that often demolished entire city blocks.

Unfortunately, these new UAVs should see production in about five years, by which time who knows what kind of battles we'll need to fight—or who'll be leading the Pentagon. But it's a step in the right direction, that's for sure. [Esquire]

The SniPod Touch: When Apps Go Deadly

Mark Wilson — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:45:00 EST

This official US Army M110 Sniper Rifle has all the necessary accouterments: long barrel, scope, and an iPod touch.

You see, that iPod is running the program BulletFlight, available now from the App Store for $12. BulletFlight is essentially a ballistics calculator that turns environmental factors like windspeed and distance into simple "click" adjustments on the rifle. Five different rifle profiles have been preloaded into the software to factor in specifics like muzzle velocity and bullet weight.

But even more importantly, having a gun app on an iPod finally gives the sniper a excuse to blast AC/DC while clearing an area of hostiles—as if another one were needed. [BulletFlight and BulletFlight App via Engadget]

Ultra-Powerful Sniper TV-B-Gone Rifle with LED Aim

Jesus Diaz — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:22:56 EST

TV-B-Gone + 30 infrared LEDs + mineral crystal lens + blue LED laser-like precision aim + PVC tubes + black paint = Judgement Day. And this time it's personal, punks. [hacked gadgets]

[Ed. Note: The opinions in this post belong entirely to the writer and Dirty Harry. The editor of this site does not condone of using such devices in public places like tradeshows and press conferences (especially those) as it is inconsiderate of the work and time people put into such presentations. Plus, it definitely isn't funny a second time. At all. Period...Stop looking at me like that. ]

Personal Sniper Detector Hears Better Than Superman

Matt Buchanan — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:30:55 EST

Part of a $1.4 billion counter-sniping package the Pentagon's asking for, which includes vehicle-mounted and UAV sniper detectors, is a pocket-sized unit that weights only a pound. The Ears 100 by QinetiQ is a pretty sweet piece of tech which "detects the sound of a gunshot, the shock wave of a bullet and the blast from the muzzle, then runs the data through two computers to pinpoint the shooter's position." The obvious downside is that you better hope the sniper's a poor shot and isn't packing any of the super-sniper tech weapons developers are toiling away on. [Defense News via Danger Room, Flickr]

Lockheed Martin One Shot Sniper System: One Shot, One Kill

Matt Buchanan — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:00:09 EDT

Lockheed Martin's scored a $2 million DARPA contract to develop the One Shot System, which will crunch data on and compensate for wind conditions so snipers can peg targets from further away, even during typhoon season. A prototype's at least 9 months away, but Kotaku will be getting an eyeful of our own One Shot System when we snipe their faces off later this week. [PR Newswire, Flickr]

DARPA Unclassifies Plans for Laser-Guided Bullet

kevinhall2 — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:50:55 EDT

DARPA's Budget Item Justification Sheet contains goodies that seem right out of the pages of science fiction, like laser-guided bullets. The goal appears to be to "enable low-cost, high performance guided projectiles" that take advantage of "guidance and targeting systems." While the idea of a laser-guided bullet conjures images of soldiers marching across fields, spraying ammo that never misses, the report mentions that the technology is intended to be used by Special Forces and Army Sniper Teams. So, boiled down, we're talking a bullet that's going to be fired at long range by a sniper and be able to adjust its trajectory mid-flight, as to have a better chance of hitting the target. Sounds like the military just doesn't want to train their snipers. Laser-Guided Bullets: Pentagon Pursuit [WIRED]

Anti-Sniper Scope Hunts the Enemy With Lasers

Brian Lam — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:25:36 EDT

Noah's got a long piece on Sniper Hunting tech over at Danger Room. He highlights the systems that'll pinpoint direction from the audio delay between its buglike seven-microphone array. But my favorite system is the Mirage 1200 handheld scope by Torrey Pines Logic that can pick up and magnify the glint from a sniper's scope with eye-safe lasers. The need for an eye-safe laser, unfortunately, is a requirement of some 1996 treaty. But I ask you this—if you can spot 'em with lasers, can't you neutralize em with lasers, too? – Brian Lam

Lasers Stop Snipers Before They Fire [Danger Room]

Sniper BB Gun: Taking Down the Varmints, One Bunny at a Time

Charlie White — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:10:09 EST

Not that we recommend becoming an assassin or anything, but if you're looking for ultra-low-noise BB shooting with pinpoint accuracy, the UTG Model 700 FPS-325 Accurate Shot Competition Master Sniper airsoft gun is for you. It's a spring-loaded air gun that shoots .20g BBs, and it must be cocked every time you shoot it, but that can be done with just one finger. Its effective range is between 150 and 170 feet, perfect for some challenging target shooting.

Now we'd never shoot this anywhere near any human beings, but we've seen far too many garden-hungry varmint rabbits marauding around the premises here that could use a good plinking. Save the cheerleader, save the world and save the azaleas for $86.95. – Charlie White

Product Page [Hobbytron, via I4U News]

H.R.T. Sniper Watch

johnb — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 18:36:14 EDT

I stopped sniping years ago. It was a childhood phase: taking to a tree, lining up the shot, and taking out the Toys 'R' Us sign at 1000 yards. But what of those of us that never outgrew our sniping days? Is there a watch for those people? Sure there is. It's the H.R.T. Sniper.

The watch lets you enter all the pertinent data about your shot and helps you line things up nice and tight.

Punch in data about the ammunition you are shooting and the conditions you are shooting in and the watch will display the appropriate hold over for a sure hit.

That's right, folks: whether you're picking off a squirrel at 500 meters or playing the William Tell Game with your lady wife, the H.R.T. is the watch for you. – John Biggs

Product Page [Telford via MobileWhack]