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When Looks Can Kill

Posted by michael on from the smoldering-glance dept.

Ben Sullivan writes "From the Los Angeles Times: "Test pilots here are flying with sophisticated helmets, resembling a bug's eye, that allow them to aim their weapons and sensors simply by looking at potential targets on the ground or in the air. The helmets, when coupled with a highly maneuverable new missile that is close to deployment, would enable fighter pilots to look over their shoulders and fire instantly at targets, a feat that until now has been matched only in science fiction movies." Development was done by San Jose-based Vision Systems International, a joint venture of defense electronics maker Rockwell Collins Inc. and Israeli's Elbit. Raytheon makes the sharp-turning AIM-9X missile."

6 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. Car by 0xB · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm half-way through putting one of these in my car - leaves my hands free to drink coffee, tune the radio etc.
    Come Monday morning, if you're driving in Portland, OR, you might want to take extra care at junctions until I've got the bugs ironed out.

    --
    0xB
  2. Wow by jidar · · Score: 2, Funny

    This time lets not sell the tech to the Israelis so they stop kicking our pilots asses so bad in mock dogfights. This could be like their handicap.

    --
    Sigs are awesome huh?
  3. Groaner... by Cheshire+Cat · · Score: 3, Funny
    This has been on the Apache for some time now.


    I'm afraid its not on my version of Apache, but I believe the new 2.0 version of Apache may have it. :)

    --

    Last night I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I'll never know.
  4. Teenagers, take note: by appletalking · · Score: 3, Funny

    Raytheon makes the sharp-turning AIM-9X missile.

    Please note that the AIM-9x != AOL Instant Messenger for Windows 95/98. (Although the destructive effects on the lives of those who come into contact with them are striking similar . . .)

    Ah well, it sounded better in my head. Honestly.

  5. Re:About time! by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 5, Funny
    Almost all posts on this story so far have been about how the Soviets and the Apache helicoptor have had systems similar to this before.

    That's because on Slashdot there are only two possible responses to a story about new technology:

    A: This is nothing new, my cousin's friend knew a guy who did something vaguely similar once before.
    B: This can't possibly work because it has no foundation.

  6. Re:About time! by Hast · · Score: 2, Funny

    Here's a trick that will help you spell it correctly in no time.

    Take a pad with small pieces of paper, similar to post-it's but without the glue.

    Write "MISSILE" on them in big (somewhat friendly) letters.

    Each time you spell it "missle" you staple one of these to a body part of your own choice.

    You'll be spelling it correctly before you know it.

    Oh yeah, and don't wear white shirts to work while you are on this 'program'.