Researchers from the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center filed a patent for a new bullet prototype called the “Limited Range Projectile” that lays the groundwork for the future of combat.
It’s intended to be a replacement for the .50 caliber bullet, according to Engadget. This kind of ammunition fits in rifles or machine guns to take out long-distance targets, but there’s a risk in harming bystanders since the bullet is very difficult to stop.
This alternative would be a .50 caliber slug infused with a pyrotechnic and reactive material. The pyrotechnic component would ignite the reactive section upon launch transforming the bullet into an “aerodynamically unstable object,” explains the patent. The combustion period would indicate how far the bullet can travel before it’s rendered inert.
The project currently has no funding. Check out the patent design below.
