One functions as the targeting and communications platform while the other carries numerous tungsten rods–up to 20 feet in length and a foot in diameter–that it can drop on targets with less ...

The idea for the hypersonic tungsten rod weapon involves dropping a large tungsten rod from a satellite or other spacecraft in orbit. When the rod hits the target at a speed of Mach 10 ...

So why weren't they adopted? Ironically, despite their simplicity, the "rods" would be prohibitively expensive. That's because tungsten is very heavy. NASA estimates that today, it costs around $ ...

(Reuters) - Kennametal Inc said it would buy Allegheny Technologies Inc's tungsten materials business for $605 million to boost supply of the raw material used to make its metal-working tools ...

HOW DO THE RODS WORK? The system would likely be comprised of tandem satellites, one serving as a communications platform, the other carrying an indeterminate number of tungsten rods, each up to ...