DARPA developing first-ever maneuverable bullet

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Researchers with the Defense Department are currently testing a bullet that's maneuverable, able to change directions mid-flight. Military officials hope the technology, once perfected, can expand the range of snipers and improve accuracy in windy conditions.

The target-seeking bullets are being developed and tested by scientists with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), as part of a project called Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance, or EXACTO. Though EXACTO researchers haven't revealed the exact mechanisms that enable the new technology, it's been suggested the bullet features fins that direct it toward its target, accounting for wind and other factors.

In July, DARPA released a video showing the bullet being tested. The clips shows the maneuverable bullets being fired twice, each aimed well off-target. One of the two shots successfully veers back toward and hits the target. The bullet is guided by a laser pointed on the target.

If the EXACTO bullets are adopted in the field, researchers say they could not only help snipers improve their effectiveness -- by battling windy conditions and tracking down moving targets -- but also better protect ground troops.

The bullets will "enhance troop safety by allowing greater shooter standoff range and reduction in target engagement timelines," EXACTO officials explained in a statement.

As part of Phase III of the project, DARPA scientists will continue to test and improve the bullet.