BARELY two months after it was unveiled to the world, a weapon
system that can shoot round corners is in Singapore. Its developers
are looking to break into the Asian market with a local
partner.
Since its launch in Israel last December, police and military
forces from 15 countries have bought 100 Corner Shots, and the
company has secured orders for 500 more.
Its inventor, Mr Amos Golan, 44, is in Singapore to explore working
with a local company to manufacture the device here under licence
for the Asian market.
A basic Corner Shot, without special lasers, torch lights and
sights, sells for around US$5,500 (S$9,370).
Having served with the Israel Defence Force for more than 20 years
and commanded one of its special forces units, Mr Golan, a retired
lieutenant-colonel, knows only too well the value of his
invention.
The deaths of friends during hostage rescues triggered the idea for
Corner Shot.
It took about seven years to develop the hinged device, which is
not a weapon itself. Working like an adaptor of sorts, a pistol is
fitted into the front end of the device, which can swivel 62
degrees to the left or right. There is also a camera attached near
the barrel of the pistol.
It is wired to a plasma colour television screen the size of a
credit card at the back end, which allows the shooter to see what
he is aiming at without sticking his head round the corner.
Squeezing the trigger of the Corner Shot fires the pistol
automatically.
Being able to see round the corner will save lives on both sides,
said Mr Golan: 'Every fighter who has seen it sees it as a dream
come true. They don't have to change their fighting methods. The
only thing is when they come to a corner, they don't have to put
their head in the line of fire.
'It also gives criminals a chance to surrender before something
happens to them.'
Reactions from special forces units have been extremely positive,
with reports that British units in Iraq have already been issued
with the Corner Shot and are likely to use it in house
searches.
Mr Golan is now just two months away from finishing his next
device. This will allow troops to fire out of one window and hit a
target hiding behind another window one floor above or below
them.
Target's around the corner but Corner Shot inventor Amos Golan
still has reporter David Boey in his sights, thanks to the screen
that shows him what he is aiming at. -- PHOTOS: TERENCE TAN
--ST
