Metal Storm, DSTO and Airtronic sign agreement

Metal Storm Limited has signed a Collaboration Agreement with the DSTO and US company Airtronic USA, Inc to further develop and demonstrate a 40mm Managed Lethality Grenade Launching System (MLGLS).

The prototype MLGLS, developed by DSTO, is a non-lethal 40mm weapon system that can automatically select the kinetic energy of its blunt impact rounds depending on the distance from the weapon to the target.

Conventional blunt impact rounds have a fixed kinetic energy, and can only be used safely in a very narrow range bracket - if a target is too close the rounds can be lethal, too far away and the ammunition has minimal effect.

The MLGLS eliminates this issue by automatically sensing the range to target and selecting the muzzle velocity and kinetic energy of its projectiles at the moment of firing to provide an effective yet non-lethal impact from very short to longer ranges.

The MLGLS attaches to a conventional grenade launcher and can also fire conventional 40mm grenade ammunition. It can be used as a stand-alone weapon, or underslung onto conventional assault rifles.

Metal Storm’s initial role is to contribute its extensive knowledge of electronic fire control systems and electronically initiated ammunition, together with providing access to specific patented intellectual property.

Airtronic USA, Inc. is the leading provider in the US of M203 40mm grenade launchers.

It will contribute its mechanical interface expertise, manufacturing experience and the benefit of its extensive business relationships with all branches of the US DoD market.

The partners aim to present the MLGLS weapon and ammunition system at the North American Technology Demonstration Non-Lethal Capabilities Conference in Ottawa, Canada in October 2011.

Response from this international event will be used to refine MLGLS requirement specifications, to engage potential early adopters, and to provide further data to quantify the expected global market potential for the product.

If market response meets expectations, Metal Storm and Airtronic intend to further negotiate with DSTO to commercialise the MLGLS for sale to international military and law enforcement markets.

Metal Storm CEO Dr Lee Finniear said that the collaboration agreement offered Metal Storm the chance to leverage its existing expertise and IP in electronically initiated ballistics beyond the current Metal Storm stacked projectile systems.

“We have already developed advanced electronic fire control systems and ammunition initiators for our stacked projectile weapons, and with minor adjustment we can integrate these existing systems to improve the performance of the MLGLS.” Dr Finniear said.

“The MLGLS system and its unique ammunition represent a significant sales and revenue opportunity for Metal Storm.”

Airtronic CEO, Dr Merriellyn Kett said that the MLGLS weapon system gives users of the M203, one of the most widely used grenade launchers in the world, the ability to escalate or deescalate force based on a perceived threat.

“With the M203 Managed Lethality System in place, the host grenade launcher retains its full capability to launch all standard 40mm grenade ammunition,” she said.

“But it can now also operate as an advanced less than lethal weapon system.

"This is a vital capability for many of the current conflict zones around the globe," Dr Kett said.