The hovering Multiple Kill Vehicle is simply a waking nightmare

Are you ready for a vision of your inevitable end at the hands of a hovering murderbot? Feast your eyes, then, on this video of the Missile Defense Agency's MKV-L -- or as we like to call it, the Multiple Kill Vehicle. The device -- meant to be used in a bundle of missile interceptors deployed by a larger "carrier" -- has apparently just completed its first flight test, so... you've been warned, resistance is futile, he'll be back, and in space no one can hear you scream. [Warning: read link is a PDF]

[Thanks, Jason]

[Alexei @ Dec 8th 2008 7:17PM]

All your bases are belong to us.

[Mongoos150 @ Dec 8th 2008 7:22PM]

All your BASE are belong to us.

[RoboDan @ Dec 8th 2008 8:03PM]

FAKE
So CGI, I mean the way that thing stayed in the air and when it fell that bounce was totally "alternate reality"


... oh God I hope I'm right... who knows when these things will be hitting crazy american gunshops
"Get rid of unwanted pests with a horrendous amount of fire power"

[idiocy_glanders @ Dec 8th 2008 8:22PM]

How embarrassing to have the first post and blow it.


Flail.

[ByronGman @ Dec 8th 2008 8:27PM]

@ idiocy_glanders

How embarassing to fail at calling out a fail.

[HunterXI @ Dec 8th 2008 8:34PM]

Dear RoboDan,

You are a complete idiot.

Don't worry though, you have plenty of company among these Reader Comments.

[EdgeOne @ Dec 8th 2008 8:34PM]

@ ByronGman

How embarrassing to fail at understanding sarclasm.

[CheckYourSources @ Jan 1st 2009 7:02PM]

Here we are just seeing the carrier vehicle hovering and focusing on a target. The propulsion occurs in pulses because it is often much easier to control the duration than the flow rate of liquid fuel in many space applications.

Yes, the propulsion system you are seeing shows some refinement of years-old technology, which is why the Missile Defense Agency was gladly willing to release this video (http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/videos/mkvhover2DEC08.wmv). If you want a sharper image of the vehicle, check out (http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/images/mkvhover_2DEC.jpg).

Thanks everyone for the other informative info and links further down in the comments!

[facebookfake @ Dec 8th 2008 10:24PM]

@RobotDan

http://xkcd.com/331/

[Jhongerkong @ Dec 8th 2008 10:23PM]

In A.D. 2101
War was beginning.
Captain: What happen ?
Mechanic: Somebody set up us the bomb.
Operator: We get signal.
Captain: What !
Operator: Main screen turn on.
Captain: It's You !!
Cats: How are you gentlemen !!
Cats: All your base are belong to us.
Cats: You are on the way to destruction.
Captain: What you say !!
Cats: You have no chance to survive make your time.
Cats: HA HA HA HA ....
Captain: Take off every 'zig' !!
Captain: You know what you doing.
Captain: Move 'ZIG'.
Captain: For great justice.

[Alexei @ Dec 8th 2008 10:28PM]

Hmm, that is the last time I make comments while playing Crysis. :)

[Chris @ Dec 8th 2008 10:48PM]

I saw a small clip on the discovery channel back in 1999.

It use two much fuel and the bigger it gets the more fuel it uses. its actually a research project for the development for Pulsating jet engines at high altitude,( I think they called ram jets im not sure)

[El Taco @ Dec 8th 2008 11:25PM]

@idiocy_glanders

I guess it's better than "FIRST!!!!!", "Can is play Crysis?" or "Will it blend?"

[The Joker @ Dec 9th 2008 12:04AM]

Oh good, Cyberdyne Systems first generation of HK (Hunter/Killer) is out.

[Vegetable @ Dec 9th 2008 5:27PM]

EdgeOne: Actually that'd be sardonicism, not sarcasm.

[fontendet24 @ Dec 12th 2008 6:44PM]

That kind of military devices - won't arrive in 20-35 years.
Such steps in research is just an earliest beginning.
This prototype is ineffective.
That flying bots require enormous quantity of energy which our science can't provide today.
Who's needed such thing that can fly only 5-10 seconds? Noone today and noone in the near and far future.

[Nate @ Dec 8th 2008 7:18PM]

I'm applying for the job of naming these things. My first order of business? Rename the MKV to BFMKV.

[Gregory G @ Dec 8th 2008 7:30PM]

More like OMGWTFMKV

[Flashpoint @ Dec 8th 2008 9:05PM]

with this technology, Starfuries are right around the corner.

[Evi1d33d @ Dec 9th 2008 4:27AM]

You forgot BBQ.

[Zinger314 @ Dec 8th 2008 7:19PM]

As long as it doesn't belong to the Enclave, it's not a big deal.

Otherwise, get your Fat Man.

[Levi @ Dec 8th 2008 8:40PM]

you sir, get one of my hard-earned Plus Points.

[Tony Bowman @ Dec 8th 2008 8:45PM]

Totally what I was thinking!

[youngstunna @ Dec 8th 2008 7:20PM]

matroska prepares to deal the final blow to avi...

[Skorpius @ Dec 8th 2008 7:22PM]

Half Life II

[Messymeese @ Dec 8th 2008 10:49PM]

Mario Cart II!
iEye, it's your turn to embarrass yourself now!

[sip @ Dec 8th 2008 10:38PM]

I get what your saying! Lets start a police state and govern it with these things

Woooo

[mu_shadow @ Dec 9th 2008 10:45AM]

Silly, it isn't Half Life. It's Missile Command.

[sip @ Dec 9th 2008 2:32PM]

True, but it still looks like it should be retrofitted with guns and cameras to control the people. How else will they stay in line?

[Timerider @ Dec 9th 2008 4:07PM]

Half-Life 2 does have flying Manhacks.

[Solomon @ Dec 8th 2008 7:22PM]

I for one welcome our new Multiple Kill Vehicle overlords.

[Surfaced @ Dec 8th 2008 9:16PM]

I guess this comment was inevitable huh. As a firefox user, I hit / and simply search "I for one".

Never fails on articles of this subject.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Dec 8th 2008 10:23PM]

Asimov must be pissed.

[wootman @ Dec 8th 2008 10:56PM]

as a firefox user, i use ctrl +f.

[Tom Gabriele @ Dec 8th 2008 11:41PM]

as a smarter firefox user, i just start typing.

nah i'm kidding. well i really do just type,. but the air of supremacy was purely in jest

[thedesolate1 @ Dec 9th 2008 12:21PM]

Not like you have a choice.
Resistance Is Futile.

[BlurMagic @ Dec 8th 2008 7:24PM]

Man. You guys do realize that if they had some sort of booster on the side of this thing to get it hovering and spinning in a 360 degree rotation, this thing would create sphere o' death. The SLAUGHTER SPHERE! AHHHH! Man. This is some James Bond shit. Im fuckin pumped. Where do I sign up?

[Hitnrun @ Dec 8th 2008 7:27PM]

All trial registrants must report to Black Mesa, or Big Brother.

[BigD145 @ Dec 8th 2008 7:31PM]

James Bond? Don't you mean The Last Starfighter?

[BlurMagic @ Dec 8th 2008 7:35PM]

Yeah. Sure. The Last Starfighter. Either way, the thing is BA.

[linuxamp @ Dec 8th 2008 10:59PM]

I was thinking it's more along the lines of robotic gun kata.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_Kata

[moe @ Dec 9th 2008 12:30AM]

I could accomplish the same thing with a 3 dollar broom stick handle

[Hitnrun @ Dec 8th 2008 7:25PM]

This is why 2008 will be like 1984.... This is really kinda pushing it. I see no real uses for this except throwing it in a room or other confined area and letting it shred everything inside. Hopefully the manual says please proceed with caution, this thing kills indiscriminately and randomly.

[bjsguess @ Dec 8th 2008 7:32PM]

As opposed to a grenade that is thrown in a room with bad people? Bullets don't discriminate either. Absolutely, if used improperly, something like this could be horrific. The assumption is that the hardware is just a more efficient and effective version of what we already have.

[LarryLarryLarry @ Dec 8th 2008 7:49PM]

So nice to read moral posturing from a guy named "hitnrun".

[Hitnrun @ Dec 8th 2008 8:01PM]

in theory it could be more efficient if it was equipped with thermal sensors, although realy, i'm more paranoid about the implications of this thing in the wrong hands...

[ozzdzz61 @ Dec 8th 2008 8:03PM]

You know,it's odd that you mention 1984----I saw this very footage on CNN years ago , as one of the main experiments in Reagan's Star Wars defense initiative! And, if that is the case, this is some improved beast by now(".....and we'll throw in an iCore7 with GPS....!)----ozzdzz61

[Piece Keepr @ Dec 8th 2008 9:06PM]

Kinda like how the terrorist do it. Right? indiscriminately and randomly? It's time for a taste of their own medicine.

[xlaxplaya @ Dec 8th 2008 10:27PM]

Man, did nobody read the pdf? This thing is designed to intercept missiles and destroy them. It's supposed to be a DEFENSE tool. But the name is a little misleading, I guess.

[Hitnrun @ Dec 8th 2008 10:44PM]

everything that is defensive can be used a a wepon in the right circumstances. Also the fact that its a computer, its bound to screw up.