Oh my... that is AWESOME.

MadMonkey572

video cool, yeah.
but what if multiple mortars are fired at once? which is logical the enemy will do once they have knowledge about this system.
i want lasers.

ypctx

that just made my fucking morning... that thing is amazing

ajh0914

The video was fucking awesome.

Neverhitboxes

Phase two of the system fires a second rocket at the origination of the RPG, killing the shooter.

Phase three goes after his family.

Cisco-Kid

I would hate to be on the wall when the shock wave hits. Yikes!

Or in the street in front of the wall.

LoganSix

@ypctx: They'll just fire multiple missiles. My _guess_ is that they'll implement this system on a robotic, self-propelled platform that integrates the missiles and radar into one unit - possibly with secondary units that are just missiles and slaved into the primary unit's radar (maybe with some sort of provision for primary-failover). IIRC, the Patriot works something like that.

It just boggles my mind that people would look at this video, say "what about multiple incoming rounds", and think that they've found the fatal flaw. Defense contractors are greedy, but they're not dumb.

Erwos

@MartinX: The guy who names it should watch Spaceballs.

+ Watch video

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

I'm no weapons engineer, but this does seem a little complicated for deployment. The timing issue is a big one - it'll work with plenty of time for detecting and acquiring the target, but in close quarters combat it would seem to inherently take too long to launch; shoot up, correct down, launch forward, explode... just too much could go wrong, especially in a combat situation.

Wasn't there another system that is already deployed - a kind of "active armor" that essentially just explodes outwards before the RPG hits? That seems like it would work more reliably in all situations. Maybe it's not as effective though. That test sure made this thing look effective!

weatherman

@Cisco-Kid: It then bankrupts his brothers tractor dealership.

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

@Cisco-Kid: phase four, conceived by Dick Cheney, goes after a guy in another country who kinda reminds us of the shooter in some way because he looked at us cross-eyed once.

Sorry, it's reflexive at this point. Thank goodness I don't have to keep that up for another four years...

weatherman

That's pretty cool.

I wonder, however, if, when it's deployed, it will still be called the "Future Combat System"?

Surely "Present Combat System" would be more appropriate at that point, but it doesn't sound as good.

Possibly they will need to give it a new name, like BANGWHAMMER or something, then the can figure out words to make that into an acronym.

I guess that's what the DoDs highly trained reverse acronym department (R.A.D) is paid to figure out.

MartinX

Still seems like it would do a lot of damage to the soldiers who happen to be near it...

:\

What about using a laser instead??

dandaman247

I call shenanigans on this.

nuclearlove

The best defense is a good offense. They should have named this porcupine, since that is what it puts me in the mind of. (OK, so maybe I need more coffee, but thats what it reminded me of.)

Curves

If Matthew "Pecker" McConaughey can toss a TiVo in the path of an RPG...

then I woulda predicted that Raytheon would have no problem.

scarbrtj

@weatherman: Did you see then end of the video when they did it real time? It took less than a second for the RPG to fire and the system to explode it. As for something going wrong, if you didn't have the system, you'd be defenseless. Even if it stops the RPG 50% of the time, that's still more than no system.

I think you are thinking of reactive armor that tanks use. IIRC, it doesn't detect the inbound round, but reacts when the round imapacts it.

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

@ypctx: It looks like it doesn't actually hit the incoming projectile, it appears to just point itself in the right direction and explode like a big shotgun-blast filling the area infront of it with "Flak" for lack of a better description.

I guess multiple projectiles fired at close to the same time would all be caught in the same blast, and if they were further apart it would just fire another one.

Set up multiple batteries that only focus on set vectors/quadrants and you'd have a pretty good system.

Plus of course you also know exactly what direction the projectile came from, so whoever fired it is basically toast.

MartinX

@russdanger:
Alot less than Randy Johnson.

+ Watch video

TerryinSt.Paul

@dandaman247: Because the only lasers that generate enough heat to blow it up in that short of a time a much bigger than this system, and have very sensitive optic systems that would fail in a dusty condition like this. Lasers will eventually be the right choice in the future, but the technology still isn't there

P.S. I know you can get flashlight size green lasers that are stable and will burn through things, but the heat buildup takes a couple seconds and I imagine this rocket is blowing something up within 500ms of when it detects it.

Nikkoli

@LoganSix: Yeah, but the alternative is much worse, and probably much more permanent.

Nikkoli

I wonder how many low-flying birds have gotten blown to nirvana by this thing so far.

russdanger

@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★: yeah, you're right. I looked at it and it definitely happens really quick. Actually a heck of a lot quicker than 1 second. And if it works in combat situations, I'm all for it. More protection is more protection, after all, and we definitely need something better than the chicken wire we're using against RPGs.

weatherman

I cant see the video from work but is this the same as the isrial company that makes the trophy system? I heard the concept was great but in practice it didn't work to well.. of course that was a while ago.. so plenty of time to fix bugs

Serpent2

@weatherman: I had to watch the end a couple of times b/c I didn't understand what they were showing. The slow mo just makes it seem like what was at the end couldn;t have been what happened it was so quick, especially with the direction changes. This reminds me of a system I saw for the President which is in essence a kevlar airbag wall. If it detects a gunshot or incoming round, it inflates a vertical wall to catch the bullet. It's a stationary unit, but they said it could be used along common paths the President walk and at events.

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

@weatherman: I wonder what'll happen if the RPG comes from another angle. Are there corrective rockets on all sides of the thing? How would it correct in another direction? Does its platform rotate super quick, too?

b-radicate

@Curves: Excuse me, waitress, I think you may have given Curves decaf. Can she have another cup please? :)

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★: God, I would hate to lean against THAT tank.

b-radicate

@TerryinSt.Paul: Was that ruled a Fowl ball?

Curves

I pity the first kid that throws a good sized rock at one of our vehicles outfitted with this system, it will be a bad day for him indeed...

Kaspir

@russdanger: I'm sure it can tell the difference between a high speed target, and a slow flying bird.

Barry99705

One step closer to having ourselves some Bolos.

Woden501

@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★: And steals his diamond necklace collection.

khamer

I want to set one of these up to scare the piss out of the paperboy.

Gann

@Erwos: Actually there is a fatal flaw in active defense systems, a dummy rocket sent in front of the real rocket fools the system at least it does for current tank active protection system. Look for Bazalt RPG30, from Russia with love. What boggles my mind is the abysmal quantity of resources humanity is spending on way to kill themselves. Apparently this will make a dent in our selfish mentality only when mushroom clouds will light up our children playground.

LoringGalung

@Kaspir: If that kid can throw as fast as an RPG, I think there are many a MLB team who would bring him, his family, AND his village over to the US in about three seconds.

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

@Barry99705: I don't know. An unladen swallow can fly pretty fast.

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

Does it work on pigeons?

secretmanofagent

@b-radicate: It appears to fire straight up, then adjusts towards the target, so it might just be 360 degree.

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

wow, very nice.
I love a good defensive weapon system.

nospamsam

@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★: European or African?

Toshie

@godwhacker: After it finishes it's smoke and nap, pretty quick.

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

@MartinX: Of course by 'BANGWHAMMER' I mean my penis.

Toshie

@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★:
so, how fast can it fly after it has been laden?

godwhacker

@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★: If this works on detecting missiles of certain speed only, I predict Dune-style 'slow bullet' weapons being developed as counter-measure.

borgseawolf

@Serpent2: That's the first thing I thought about as well.

+ Watch video

BoinK

@borgseawolf: The slow blade penetrates, eh?

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

I'm not normally a fan of military tech, as it's usually weapons meant to kill. But given that this is meant for defense...and is also FUCKING BADASS, then I'll make an exception and approve entirely.

God, that was awesome.

justhesh

@weatherman: you're thinking of ablative armor. I think it works ok, but it's only effective once. re: up-close combat - generally speaking, with RPG attacks, you want to be standing CLEAR of the blast radius, so you're probably not standing right next to the vehicle you're attacking when you let one off. Unless you're just doing the suicide thing, in which case you're probably just strapping one on and saving the whole "rocket" part for some of your less-explodey-prone peeps who have more use for rockets than you.

I'm wondering what the explosive effect is on friendlies standing next to the protected vehicle? I'd like to see this video again, please, with a dead chicken or a rack of lamb or something in front of the wall, so we can see what happens to meat when this thing goes off, SRL style.

aetheria

@Kaspir: Radar determines speed and size of the incoming projectile. Birds and thrown rocks aren't going to trigger it.

obeisance

There's no shenanigans here.

From the Patriot missile to ECMs, Raytheon builds some amazing sci-fi shit that is deployed in the real world. I used to work in one of their mfg plants and the technology would blow your mind!

ZukeZuke

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14686871/ Isrealis already had this developed for years now and by the looks of the U.S. copy, Isreal still did it better

ShradhdhaGebsite

"All your BASE r Blong to U... shit what the EFF was that?"

CharmPeddler

Holy crap, this will certainly show those enemies who would shoot a RPG at our vehicles.

Until they decide to one-up us by shooting 2 RPG's.

bookishboy

@bookishboy: Yeah, we'd need, like... TWO of the defense platforms.

DeusExMach

@Gann: "I want my Two dollars!" *K-thwakka-BOOM*

DeusExMach

@Toshie: The whole point of the system is to block incoming phallic-shaped objects. So WangBammer would be more accurate in your case...

Or Cockblocker?

...Stiffstopper?

the Trojan-X42?

DeusExMach

@khamer: and sleeps with his wife, kicks his dog, and insults his mother.

DeusExMach

@LoganSix: Yeah, Barotrauma is not all that great an option compared to frag-damage...

DeusExMach

@bookishboy: You should call Raytheon. I'll bet nobody there was smart enough to even THINK of that.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@DeusExMach: Or one platform with TWO missiles.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@justhesh: I'm so relieved. I was so hoping you'd approve.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Curves: It's apt.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Cisco-Kid: Wow, those 3 comments just wasted my time.

unspellable

@DeusExMach: Hmm, hadn't thought about the military trying to shoot down my penis (thanks for tonight's nightmare though).

I was making reference to Dr. Horrible, but now I feel compelled to seek out some type of kevlar cup... :-(

Toshie

KAME... HAME... HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Strife56

This reminds me of various anime that have "Itano Circus" missile swarms. The missiles move around just like the missile in the video. Imagine that! We're one step closer to creating a VF-1 Valkyrie with real swarming micro-missiles!

Mecharine

At 00:27 you can see the RPG's shaped charge detonate. It is the yellow streak that lances from right to left across the bottom half of the frame. It's probably less destructive than a direct hit, but that could still ruin your day.

This system is definitely the shit, but that test took place over a year ago. Look at the approved for public release date at the beginning. Which makes it all the more strange that it is number 8 on Time magazine's best inventions of 2008.

ianovich

I really like how the 'enemy' missile deploys itself to begin with, f$#@ing cool shit.

banmojo

@Curves: maybe you just have lots of little pricks on your mind ;^)

oh, come on, you mentioned porcupines, I link that to 'little pricks', it's f4#@ing COMEDY!!

ok, ok, I'll TFSU already, geez

banmojo

@Woden501: Yes! I hope Raytheon works on developing Hellbores next.

ianovich

They should call it Death Rights Management system. After years of development and invested billions, it will take about 3 days for the opposing side to develop a free countermeasure.

Bloodboiler

Kinda like CIWS, innit?

USB_Humping_Dog

@Mecharine: I'd rather have funnels.

USB_Humping_Dog

Honestly, I imagine that compared to what the RPG would do both to the vehicle and the surroundings if it hit, that shockwave is probably the lesser of two evils.

Crimson (PS3 ID Black--Tiger)