Marine Corps Non-lethal Weapons to be Developed by Metal Storm and General Dynamics

QUANTICO MARINE BASE, Va.
Systems designers at Metal Storm Inc. in Arlington, Va., and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Orlando, Fla., are developing prototype non-lethal weapons for U.S. Marine Corps combat vehicles under terms of research contracts.

General Dynamics and Metal Storm engineers are developing prototypes for the Marine Corps Mission Payload Module-Non-Lethal Weapon Systems (MPM-NLWS) to provide the Marine Corps with improved non-lethal counter-personnel capabilities.

The new non-lethal weapon system will be mounted to the Marine Corps BAE Systems Transparent Armor Gun Shield (MCTAGS), which is on Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) units, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), and Logistics Vehicle Systems (LVSs).



The MCTAGS provides gunner protection that enables direct vision, situational awareness, and target acquisition while providing enhanced protection from small arms fire and fragments from roadside bombs.

Transparent Armor Gun Shields (TAGS) also are configurable for other kinds of combat vehicles, including the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, M1 Abrams main battle tank, M113 armored personnel carrier, and Stryker. TAGS is particularly effective in close-combat urban military operations.

NEW WEAPONS PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE FOR MARINES DEALING WITH NON-COMBATANTS >> http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1998/08/980828-usmc.htm