StunStrike CQSR (Close Quarters Shock Rifle) by XADS: Futuristic Stun Gun Tech

by David Crane
david@defensereview.com

Firearm News" syndicated a news.com.au article yesterday that discusses a new class of less-lethal/non-lethal stun gun called the StunStrike CQSR (Close Quarters Shock Rifle). The StunStrike CQSR, designed/developed by Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems (XADS), does away with wires as the electric-shock delivery system (a la Taser), and instead uses some kind of electrified plasma or an electified ion stream (I forget exactly how Pete Bitar/XADS phrased/described it). The news.com.au article, by the way, is titled New stun gun uses UV laser.

Today Noah Shactman published his own article on the technology on his website, DefenseTech.org. Noah’s article is titled Next-Gen Stun Guns Target Crowds. The article contains a bunch of links, one of which is a link to an article titled "Sweeping stun guns to target crowds" that NewScientist.com published yesterday.

DefRev spoke with Pete Bitar, President/CEO of Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems (XADS), on the phone, yesterday. Pete informed us that…

he’s already received SBIR Phase 1 and Phase 2 R&D contracts from the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). Right now, the range of the StunStrike CQSR (Close Quarters Shock Rifle) is very limited. The man-portable unit (CQSR), currently has a maximum range of roughly 10-12 feet. For the fixed-position model that can be structure-mounted, maximum range is around 70 feet. However, XADS is currently developing laser-based technology that will have much greater (somewhat indefinite) range. According to the company, operational laser-based, less-lethal/non-lethal electric shock weapons are still a couple of years away.

While I was talking with Pete Bitar, yesterday, I told him that basically, with the XADS Stunstrike CQSR "you’re shooting lightning at people", to which Pete said something to the effect of "yeah, that’s pretty much it". What’s interesting about the StunStrike is that the lightning bolt that comes out is visible (just like natural lightning), and has an ending point, like a light saber. Pete told me that the electrical "beam" is both visually and audibly intimidating, and should prove to have a profound psychological effect on people. Basically, it looks and sounds scary, which is usually what you want with a less-lethal device.

Assuming the technology is as effective as the company (XADS) claims, a fixed-position version of the StunStrike might be viable as a cockpit-protection system. If someone tries to storm the cockpit, the pilots could just flip a switch and activate an oscillating (for instance) electified charge that can be kept on (constant) until the plane is safely back on the ground, and the pilots decide to shut it off. For embassy security, you could use the technology to hose down an angry mob/crowd outside the gates, or if they somehow manage to breach the gates. You could set up a battery of several guns to cover the entire cirmumferance of the embassy.

Vehicular protection against ambushes, including RPG’s and RPG gunners, is another possible use, provided, again, that the technology works as advertised. Not only could the military use this, but I’m sure the United States Secret Service would want to investigate its potential incorporation into the Presidential protection arsenal (White House perimeter security and motorcade defense).

Of course, these are just a couple of the potential uses for the StunStrike Technology.

You can contact Pete Bitar at Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems (XADS) at 765-641-9865, or via email at pete@XtremeADS.com.

Here’s a little more info on the XADS Stunstrike CQSR (Close Quarters Shock Rifle), taken directly from the Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems website:

"Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems (Xtreme A.D.S. or XADS), creator and developer of the StunStrike, Directed Energy, Non-lethal Weapon System, introduces the StunStrike CQSR (Close Quarters Shock Rifle). XADS received SBIR Phase 1 and Phase 2 R&D contracts through the US Marine Corps for non-lethal weapons development. The goal was to develop a non-lethal, neuromuscular disruptor which works through the air without need of wires or direct contact to have an effect. We have succeeded with what could be termed a 2003 version of a short-range "Phaser on Stun".

With an effective range of nearly 9 feet from the operator, the CQSR is capable of stopping and dropping any person or group of people with no long-term harm done. The CQSR is also useful in often being able to render vehicle electronics inoperable, meaning it can stop a car from running by disrupting the electronic ignition. Applications of this technology are: – Covering Arrests – Prison Security – Corridor Security – Gate Security – House Raids (such as drug busts) – Riot Control (it can stun multiple targets in a sweep) – Any situation in which a "Taser" or pepper spray is used.

In addition to the CQSR, XADS is developing two longer-ranged systems, one of which will have a range of 20 feet and the other 50 feet. The 20-foot range system will be able to be towed by a car and set up for mobile operations. The longest range system is ideally suited for fixed position defense, such as for buildings, compounds, embassies, etc. NOTE: WE SELL ONLY TO U.S. POLICE AND MILITARY CUSTOMERS. Please direct any questions to Pete Bitar at xtreme1@lycos.com

According to Noah Shactman/Rheinmetall AG (based in Dusseldorf) is developing a stun weapon that "creates a conducting channel by using a small explosive charge to squirt a stream of tiny conductive fibres through the air at the victim."

DefenseTech.org points out, however, that "Slashdot.org is suspicious of XADS" and the StunStrike tech. But, they (DefenseTech.org) also point out that XADS has a contract with the Navy for a "Personnel Neuromuscular Disruptor Incapacitation System".