ARLINGTON, Va., 1 July 2008. Metal Storm Inc. (MSI) won a contract from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) to demonstrate capabilities for the Mission Payload Module (MPM) -- Non-Lethal Weapons System (NLWS).

Under the terms of the contract, Metal Storm will prepare and deliver a demonstration model for a government-controlled Market Research Demonstration (MRD).

MRDs aid the government in identifying technologies that have been developed by industry. Following the MRD, the government plans to initiate a new full-and-open contracting effort for a System Development and Demonstration (SDD) Phase contract. Following these phases, the government anticipates releasing proposals for production contracts.

The Mission Payload Module -- Non-Lethal Weapons System (MPM-NLWS) will provide the warfighter with a non-lethal counter-personnel capability. The system will support missions requiring crowd control, and will deny, defend, and control area access while allowing the warfighter to engage threats at standoff ranges and protect non-combatants, says a representative.

Commenting on the award, Peter D. Faulkner Metal Storm general manager, says: "We believe the benefits of our technology when combined with that of our teaming partner Defense Technology, part of the BAE Systems Products Group, will provide significant improvements in range, area coverage, and in particular, volume of fire over existing non-lethal weapon systems."

The MPM-NLWS will be mounted onto the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). Follow-on spirals will be integrated on other tactical vehicle platforms, unmanned ground vehicles, and Navy surface water vessels through an evolutionary acquisition process.