Metal Storm and Taser developing less than-lethal ammunition

Metal Storm and TASER are developing less-than-lethal ammunition for the aptly-named MAUL rapid-fire 12-gauge launcher. The tiny 800 gram MAUL fits on an assault rifle (pictured), and shoots five bullets which incapacitate those it hits with the same Neuro Muscular effect of a handheld TASER.

Until very recently, the basic concept of the gun had changed little since the advent of gunpowder, and nearly all guns still run on the same principles. A decade ago, Metal Storm developed a new type of digital gun that is more closely related to the inkjet printer than traditional ordnance.

Its ammunition is stacked, fired electronically and ammunition types can be mixed, enabling the same gun to perform multiple roles.

Meanwhile, the dumb lumps of metal which guns initially fired evolved into intelligent projectiles capable of delivering a range of payloads for everything from door-breaching, grenade launching, and now non-lethal.

Metal Storm has signed a memorandum of understanding to begin working with TASER to produce rapid-fire less-then-lethal ammunition for the its aptly-named MAUL rapid-fire 12-gauge launcher.

The firepower of the 800 gram MAUL belies its size and although it can be operated independently from its own shoulder stock, it can also be fitted as an accessory to an assault rifle, or used with a pistol grip.

A five round reload takes two seconds and each bullet (pictured) incapacitates those it hits with the same Neuro Muscular effect of a handheld TASER.

When fully-developed, the ammunition will offer the MAUL semi-automatic non-lethal firing of Extended Range Electronic Projectile (XREP) TASER ammunition, as fast as you can squeeze the trigger, with accuracy up to 100 feet.