The U.S. Navy is equipping some of its vessels with Israeli-made Mini-Typhoon 12.7mm remotely controlled machine-guns.
The 370-pound system, which can be fired by an operator in a remote location, holds 230 rounds, sufficient for 25 seconds of rat-tat-tat. Strategy Page notes that the weapon is an effective defense against small boats such as those used by suicide bombers.
So, who might the Navy turn to for Mini-Typhoon duty? Gamers, reports Strategy Page:
The Mini-Typhoon uses a day/night vidcam and a stabilizer. The remote operator has an automatic target tracker, and can easily hit small boats two kilometers away... Operators with video game experience can be quickly trained to operate the weapon.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGIN / REGISTER
Comments
These sounds like the turrents on the Millenium Falcon.
Because all non-gamers are clearly morons.
I don't think they are saying that non-gamers are incapable of operating the gun. Ithink what the writer means is that gamers don't need as long to train to operate it effectively.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma
You're only just realising this now? ;P
/b
Still doesnt sound quite as cool as controlling the aerial (you know that took me about 5 attempts to spell?) drone, when those things have missiles and crap on the wings.
Check out my blog - http://serveratcapacity.blogspot.com
My god jack thompson was right!!! Ha! Not often that those words are spoken. I just wanted to screw with his vanity googling.
It sounds like anyone with hand eye coordination and a brain that can grasp deflection shooting could do it. I think they need to be more specific about the hardware, are you controlling it with a gamepad, a keyboard/mouse/joystick or a wiimote? Since it's remote controlled, I hope the interface is moddable, I'd want shooting the weapon to produce a sound effect like the weapon in Space Invaders and if there's a particularly big terrorist boat (Or perhaps "aquatic technical" will be the official term) it should sound like the mothership
Though I'm not familiar with this particular technology, I know that a lot of other remotely operated tech in the military uses modified Xbox360 controllers. I'd imagine that would really be all you need to operate something like this.
Isn't that just a remotely operated browning m-2?
Queue up the anti-government, anti-war, anti-military, anti-viedo game outrage and protests.
Personally, I think this is pretty cool. Unless you're being targeted by the weapons system.
--Verbinator
25 seconds? Where's my unlimited ammo belt?!
"HEY! LISTEN!"
But does the turret have regenerating health? Most modern gamers won't touch it with a 10-foot pole otherwise, because it would be 'too frustrating'.
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
They'll have to nerf it in the patch, it's way over-powered.