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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">EXACTO</span></span>
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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article is about a sniper round. For the small scale hand tool, see <a href="X-Acto" title="X-Acto">X-Acto</a>.</div>
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</p><p><b>EXACTO</b>, an <a href="Acronym_and_initialism" class="mw-redirect" title="Acronym and initialism">acronym</a> of "Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance", is a <a href="Sniper_rifle" title="Sniper rifle">sniper rifle</a> firing <a href="Smart_bullet" title="Smart bullet">smart bullets</a> being developed for <a href="DARPA" title="DARPA">DARPA</a> (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) by <a href="Lockheed_Martin" title="Lockheed Martin">Lockheed Martin</a> and <a href="Teledyne" class="mw-redirect" title="Teledyne">Teledyne</a> Scientific & Imaging in November 2008.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The new <a href=".50_BMG" title=".50 BMG">.50 BMG</a> gun and improved <a href="Telescopic_sight" title="Telescopic sight">scope</a> could employ "<a href="Fire-and-forget" title="Fire-and-forget">fire-and-forget</a>" technologies including "fin-stabilized projectiles, spin-stabilized projectiles, internal and/or external aero-actuation control methods, projectile guidance technologies, tamper proofing, small stable power supplies, and advanced sighting, optical resolution and clarity technologies". Its estimated availability at the time was 2015.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The DARPA EXACTO program may face competition from <a href="Sandia_National_Laboratories" title="Sandia National Laboratories">Sandia National Laboratories</a> for creating a guided sniper round. The DARPA EXACTO program uses different methods from Sandia's guided round. It relies on remote-guidance tied to the optics, which may be more reliable than Sandia's <a href="Laser_guidance" title="Laser guidance">laser guidance</a> method of painting the target with a laser for their projectile to follow, which can be detected, diffused, or blocked. EXACTO models on existing .50 BMG ammunition and rifles instead of needing new hardware, which the Sandia guided dart would need. Although EXACTO is specifically focused on military applications, Sandia is seeking to make commercial sales of their guided sniper projectile.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>DARPA test fired the EXACTO in early 2014 and released video of demonstrations in July 2014. Exact technologies used in the bullets were not revealed, but the EXACTO uses a real-time optical guidance system with no visible fins or other steering mechanism on bullet illustrations. Footage released showed the rifle intentionally aiming off target so the bullets could correct their flight path. EXACTO technology is claimed to markedly extend the day and night-time range of current sniper systems.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> How the ammunition is designed to change direction in mid-air is classified. The second phase of the program was completed in summer 2014 with a number of improvements provided. The next phase included further refinements and a system-level live-fire test.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The EXACTO program completed another round of live-fire tests in February 2015. In the tests, an experienced shooter used the guided rounds to track and hit a moving target several times. Video showed the bullets maneuvering in-flight to achieve hits. Additionally, an inexperienced shooter used the system and was still able to hit the moving target.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>In mid-2016, Russia revealed it was developing a similar "smart bullet" designed to hit targets at a distance of up to 10 kilometres (6.2 mi).<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The price for one of these bullets has not been revealed to the public, but DARPA has estimated 10-100 US dollars per round.
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2></div>
<ul><li><a href="Airburst_round" title="Airburst round">Airburst round</a></li>
<li><a href="Barrett_XM109" title="Barrett XM109">Barrett XM109</a></li>
<li><a href="XM25_CDTE" title="XM25 CDTE">XM25 CDTE</a></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
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<li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2015-04-27">https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2015-04-27</a> </span>
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<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">
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</style><cite id="CITEREFThompson2009" class="citation cs2">Thompson, Mark (15 April 2009), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090417045222/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1891348,00.html">"Pirates Beware: Soon Rifles That Kill from a Mile Away"</a>, <i><a href="Time_(magazine)" title="Time (magazine)">Time</a></i>, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1891348,00.html">the original</a> on 17 April 2009</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.guns.com/2012/07/26/exacto-darpa-extreme-accuracy-tasked-ordnance-optically-laser-guided-bullet/">"DARPA Developing Optically-Guided Bullet System (Video)"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160910161122/http://www.guns.com/2012/07/26/exacto-darpa-extreme-accuracy-tasked-ordnance-optically-laser-guided-bullet/">Archived</a> 10 September 2016 at the <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>. Guns.com, 26 July 2012</span>
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<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Lavars, Nick. "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gizmag.com/darpa-sniper-bullet-change-path/32952/">DARPA's guided sniper bullet changes path mid-flight</a>" <i>GizMag</i>, 15 July 2014. Accessed: 19 July 2014.</span>
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<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2014/07/10a.aspx">EXACTO Demonstrates First-Ever Guided .50-Caliber Bullets</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150208040007/http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2014/07/10a.aspx">Archived</a> 2015-02-08 at the <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>" DARPA, 10 July 2014. Accessed: 19 July 2014.</span>
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<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/12/15/dod-wants-bullet-that-can-change-direction-after-being-fired.html">"DoD Wants Bullet That Can Change Direction After Being Fired"</a>. Military.com, 15 December 2014</span>
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<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/exacto_guided_bullet_demonstrates_repeatable_performance_against_moving_targets_2904152.html">EXACTO Guided bullet demonstrates repeatable performance against moving targets</a> - Armyrecognition.com, 29 April 2015</span>
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<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://kitup.military.com/2016/07/russians-launch-smart-bullet-effort-in-the-wake-of-u-s-program.html">Russians Launch Smart Bullet Effort in the Wake of U.S. Program</a> - Kitup.Military.com, 20 July 2016</span>
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<li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://tass.com/defense/889242">"Russia launches 'smart bullet' testing in guided flight regime"</a>.</cite></span>
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>
<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.darpa.mil/program/extreme-accuracy-tasked-ordnance">DARPA program web site</a></li></ul></div><!--htdig_noindex--><div><div class="zim-footer">
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