Gun attractive to military, law enforcementUS influenced its creationCompany needs financial help from RuddAUSTRALIAN weapons developer Metal Storm Ltd will unveil its new lightweight shotgun this week, amid speculation the company could be forced offshore.Metal Storm will launch the MAUL weapon - a 12-gauge shotgun weighing just 800g - at a small arms symposium in Las Vegas in the United States.By contrast, conventional shotguns can weigh as much as four kilograms.The low weight of the Metal Storm shotgun means it is attractive to the military, security and law enforcement industries, the company says."We think we have set the bar for a five-shot semi-automatic shotgun," Metal Storm Incorporated general manager Peter Faulkner said.Metal Storm Incorporated is the US arm of the company."The MAUL was conceived with a great deal of influence from the US operational community."The battery-powered shotgun has been designed for use as a door breacher and less lethal force missions, functions that usually require two weapons."The MAUL is a disruptive technology that will forever change the way the small arms community thinks about how and when to use a shotgun," Metal Storm chief executive Dr Lee Finniear said.There has also been ongoing speculation that the company could be sold off to foreign interests.At the company's annual general meeting in Brisbane last week, Dr Finniear called for financial help from the Federal Government and shareholders.The meeting was told that the company risked running out of money at the end of August unless it could secure a $30 million cash injection."I would say there's a risk the company could be owned by foreign interests," Dr Finniear said."I'm an optimist and always hopeful that an Australian business will stay in Australia."I'm also hopeful, but not confident, that the Australian Government will recognise the potential of Metal Storm in time for it to provide assistance."
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