TLS (Thunder and Lightening Shield)

Over the last several decades new threats to U.S. Navy ships have emerged, and these threats are difficult to defeat with existing shipboard weapons and countermeasures. Chief among the newer threats are sea skimming cruise missiles and small, fast boats containing explosives. These threats are dangerous because they may get inside of ships' normal defenses, most of which are intended to engage and defeat targets at operationally significant standoff distances. The proposed Thunder & Lightning Shield (TLS) concept is to employ Metal StormT technology as the means of applying concentrated firepower to the threats. Integral to the Metal StormT (Thunder) technology are Foster-Miller's non-lethal (Lightning) payload options against drivers and boats. Incorporating Foster-Miller, Inc StingrayT incapacitation net technology within portions of Metal StormT pods, or as separate non-lethal weapons similar to FMI's BoatTrapT designed as a mortar launched asset. The Metal StormT concept utilizes multiple barrels in aiming "pods" with multiple projectiles per barrel, and electronic firing with no moving parts to achieve extremely high rates of fire over short periods of time. The precision of this firepower can be achieved by proper integration of the Metal StormT aiming pods with shipboard target acquisition and tracking systems. (P-040295)