TASER XREP (eXtended Range Electronic Projectile) Less-Lethal Shotgun Round

By David Crane
defrev at gmail dot com

September 1, 2008

If you’ve been watching FutureWeapons on the Military Channel, you may have seen a segment on the XREP fin-stabilized Taser shotgun round (12-gauge shotgun), which is a miniaturized, self-contained, ballistically-launched Taser round developed, marketed, and soon-to-be-produced by Taser International, Inc.. The XREP, which stands for eXtended Range Electronic Projectile, can be utilized to engage a subject up to 65 feet (20 meters) away, and combines blunt impact with Taser’s trademark NMI (Neuromuscular Incapacitation) effect on human targets.  The NMI effect is delivered to the hostile subject for 20 seconds via four sharp reflex-engagement electrodes on the XREP projectile’s nose that penetrate the subject’s clothing and/or skin upon impact.  The Taser XREP less-lethal shotgun round is designed to counter any attempt by the subject to dislodge the device after impact, including grabbing the projectile or the Deployment Cord.  One way or the other, the XREP is going to complete the circuit and disable the subject, including through the subject’s hand. 

XREP is arguably a technological marvel, and assuming it works reliably as advertised, could potentially become a…

game-changer in active-shooter scenarios, in that you law enforcement may be able to immediately disable an active shooter without having to utilized lethal force, which means they could potentially non-lethally neutralize and apprehend a subject alive and prosecute them instead of kill them.

In January 2008, Mossberg (O.F. Mossberg & Sons) introduced a dedicated less-lethal shotgun specifically for the XREP round called the TASER X12 LLS (Less-Lethal Shotgun).  The TASER X12 LLS is based on the Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun platform, and includes Radial Ammunition Key (RAK) technology (patent pending) to prevent the shotgun from accepting lethal 12-gauge rounds.  This RAK element negates the possibility of the user accidentally loading a lethal round into the shotgun under stress.

DefenseReview is curious as to whether or not Taser’s XREP technology can be combined with the Beretta LTLX700 shotgun (12ga.) a.k.a. Beretta Constant Kinetic Energy System (CKES) a.k.a. Beretta Constant Kinetic Effect Weapon (CKEW)
to allow the XREP to be employed/deployed out to greater distances, if
necessary. The question is how far can the XREP round be fired
accurately, and how large a firing impulse (and accompanying G-forces)
can the XREP’s electronics handle.

DefenseReview contacted Taser co-founder and CEO Rick Smith today on his cell to find out when the XREP would be going into production and at what price it would be offered. Mr. Smith informed us that projected pricing is $100-$120 per round, and planned production is January 2008.

Company Contact Info:

TASER International, Inc.
17800 N. 85th St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85255-6311
800-978-2737 Toll Free
480-905-2000 Main Office
480-991-0791 Fax
taser@taser.com
http://www.taser.com
http://www.taser.com/PRODUCTS/LAW/Pages/XREP.aspx

Additional Articles, Videos and Links:

Futureweapons – Taser Intl XREP Video Segment (FutureWeapons)