Metal Storm area denial system tested

Inch by inch Australian ballistics innovator Metal Storm is getting closer to fielding production weapon systems - the latest milestone is a successful test of a complete, integrated 40mm weapon system at Port Wakefield range.
A DSTO-led consortium has test-fired a new Area Denial Weapon System (ADWS) based on Metal Storm ballistics technology,

The trial, at Defence's Port Wakefield Proof & Experimental Range in August, saw the test firing of a four-barrel concept demonstrator, complete with fire control system. The consortium includes Metal Storm Ltd, Tenix Defence and European firm Nico-Pyrotechnik.

The Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill, said the successful firing has opened the door to potential new capability options for the ADF. The ADWS is designed to provide a humane alternative to anti-personnel land mines. Australia is a signatory to the 1997 Ottawa Treaty which bans their use.

"If developed further this new weapons concept would have the potential to be used on operations to defend vital assets such as airfields and ships," Senator Hill said.

"The concept demonstrator includes a multi-barrel weapon pod linked to a fire control system and a central control station. Each pod had the capability to fire up to 20 projectiles using various rates of fire and firing sequences that are chosen by an operator at the control station. With further development this concept could potentially provide a type of remote-controlled weapons system that might be adapted to a number of Defence capabilities and used to protect assets or deny access to large areas of land."

"As the communications use Internet type technology, it is feasible to locate the control system anywhere in the world," Hill added. "It would also be possible for one operator to control a number of ADWS sites."

Senator Hill said the ADWS was a good example of the use of concept demonstrators to build capability for Defence.

Through the banning of anti-personnel landmines (APL), the ADF needed to identify a more appropriate weapon system to deny access by a dismounted enemy to large areas of ground. The ADWS Project was established to investigate and demonstrate weapon system concepts that may provide an alternative to APLs.

The ADWS aims to demonstrate area denial technology that can overcome the indiscriminate nature of land mines by addressing the requirement for a man-in-the-loop to initiate the weapon system. The ADWS concept provides an option that is Ottawa Treaty Compliant.

The ADWS is based on integrating Metal Storm 40 mm stacked projectiles into a multi-barrel pod system and linking them with intrusion sensors and a fire control system.

The concept demonstration system comprised four weapon pods, each containing four barrels, networked and linked to a command and control station. Each demonstrator pod has the capability to fire up to 20 projectiles in varying user-selectable combinations including rates of fire, barrel selection and firing sequence.

The live fire demonstration used inert projectiles, and engaged simulated targets based on information provided by a computerised sensor system. Firing responses included a range of combinations from single shots through to a rapid-fire burst of 20 projectiles at a rate of 1,500 rounds per minute. The pods are able to fire at a maximum rate of 6,000 rounds per minute. More barrels can be added to each pod to increase payload as required.

Metal Storm's Chief Executive Officer, David Smith, said the demonstration of the ADWS highlighted the viability of the company's stacked round, multiple propellant load technology in the military area denial role. "The conclusion of the ADWS project provides us with the opportunity to evaluate the commercial opportunities flowing from the project outcomes."

"In addition to land mine replacement and area denial applications, the ADWS concept may have potential for other uses, such as airfield defence and defence of ships against close-in terrorist attack," he added.

News of the successful ADWS test firing came only weeks after Netal Storm announced it had won a $422,297 contract from an American UAV manufacturer, Dragonfly
This will constitute Metal Storm's first airborne demonstration of its technology on a UAV.

Metal Storm CEO, Mr David Smith noted, "This contract is an important milestone for Metal Storm, as we continue to seek and attain recognition as a systems integrator, both with key corporate partners like Dragonfly
Michael Piasecki, President of Dragonfly