First post on the thread I said, "...and coming next - Guided Bullets".
It would seem they're coming a bit sooner than I thought - though not using the piezo-electric guidance. Now, how long to apply the technology to an aircraft cannon and fire-control system.....
ATK Developing Anti-Rocket Bullet
Within two years, Alliant TechSystems (ATK) intends to test-fire a 50mm bullet that can correct its course to hit incoming rockets and mortar rounds.
The bullet will carry a directional thruster, which will be controlled via radio signals from a nearby radar tracking the incoming fire.
“As the round is flying forward, we’re tracking the round and the incoming threat with radar. The communication link will course correct the round and tell it when to fire a thruster to put it back on course to ensure it will intercept the incoming target,” said ATK business development manager Eric Axelson.
The 2 inches in diameter bullet is part of the U.S. Army’s Extended Area Protection & Survivability (EAPS) program, which also includes the radar, fire-control computer, and gun.
The bullet is steered by a solid-fuel rocket embedded in the cone of the projectile, being co-developed by ATK and the U.S. Army Armament, Research, Development and Engineering Center,said ATK spokesman Bryce Hallowell.
“The thruster has a very very rapid millisecond-type burn that is a one-time course correction for the projectile. There is a lot of guidance capability that is embedded into that technology,” Hallowell said.
ATK will testfire the bullet from a Bushmaster gun variant.......