DARPA is working on self-guiding bullets for military use

How do you hit a target if you have bad aim? The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is known for developing some of the country’s most futuristic technologies, has developed a high-tech sniper-bullet system to solve that problem. DARPA recently conducted its first successful live-fire tests of the agency’s Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance program, which is designed to help military snipers hit targets, even when their aim is off. A new video posted on DARPA’s website Thursday shows what happens when a sniper fires 50-caliber rounds from a rifle equipped with the EXACTO system. Despite the shots being off target, the sniper hits his mark every time.

The US military has been testing in-flight guidance for .50-caliber bullets, turning the projectiles into miniature homing missiles. DARPA’s Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO) bullets have the ability to maneuver in flight to hit targets that they’re not precisely aimed at, compensating for factors like weather, wind, and target movement. DARPA explains on its website: “For military snipers, acquiring moving targets in unfavorable conditions, such as high winds and dusty terrain commonly found in Afghanistan, is extremely challenging with current technology. It is critical that snipers be able to engage targets faster, and with better accuracy, since any shot that doesn’t hit a target also risks the safety of troops by indicating their presence and potentially exposing their location.” The bullets are the size of a large pen and can be used in both sniper rifles and machine guns. The full EXACTO system comprises of both bullets and a real-time guidance system that tracks and delivers the projectile to the target. They’re still some way from the battlefield, however. This live fire test is likely just the first of many.