Leader Propulsion Systems has prototyped a "centrifuge gun" that spins up ball bearings and releases them at speeds of 300 meters per second, equivalent to a handgun. Inventor Charles St. George says that a large US defense contractor has signed on to further develop the weapon, appropriately named DREAD. From New Scientist:
He claims a fully developed DREAD gun would be quieter than a conventional gun, less prone to malfunction, and could contain more ammunition.
DREAD also releases its balls in extremely rapid succession, which allows it to unleash formidable firepower against a target. Promotional material for DREAD states: "Due to its extraordinary high rate of fire capability, it delivers its bullets 8.5 millimetres apart, thereby delivering more mass to the target than any other weapon."
Link to New Scientist article, Link to more background from Defense Review, Link to original Defense Review article including funny/scary video "commercial"
