U.S. Navy MACH 10 Railgun Test by BAE

BAE Systems was awarded a $34.5 million contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for the development of the Electromagnetic (EM) Railgun under Phase 2 of the Navy's Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) program.

The focus of Phase 2 is to advance the Railgun technology by maturing the launcher and pulsed power from a single shot operation to a multi-shot capability, and incorporating auto-loading and thermal management systems.

"We're committed to developing this innovative and game changing technology that will revolutionize naval warfare," said Chris Hughes, vice president and general manager of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems. "The Railgun's ability to defend against enemy threats from distances greater than ever before improves the capabilities of our armed forces."

In 2012, during Phase 1 of the INP program, engineers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia successfully fired BAE Systems' EM Railgun prototype at tactical energy levels. The recently awarded ONR contract marks the completion of Phase 1 and the selection of BAE Systems as the developer for the Phase 2 launcher prototype. Phase 2 is anticipated to begin immediately with initial prototypes to be delivered in 2014. The Railgun development will be carried out by BAE Systems in Minneapolis, Minnesota and by teammates IAP Research in Dayton, Ohio and SAIC in Marietta, Georgia.

The EM Railgun is a long-range weapon technology that uses high-power electromagnetic energy instead of explosive chemical propellants to launch a projectile farther and faster than any gun before it. When fully weaponized, a Railgun will deliver hypervelocity projectiles on target, at ranges far exceeding the Navy's current capability.

The Department of the Navy's science and technology corporate board chartered the Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) construct to foster game-changing and disruptive technologies ahead of the normal requirements process.

The Electromagnetic Railgun INP was initiated in 2005. The goal during Phase I is a proof-of-concept demonstration at 32 mega-joule muzzle energy has been achieved. A future weapon system at this energy level would be capable of launching a 100-nautical mile projectile. This launch energy has the advantage of being able to stress many components to evaluate full-scale mechanical and electromagnetic forces.

Phase I was focused on the development of launcher technology with adequate service life, development of reliable pulsed power technology and component risk reduction for the projectile.

Phase II, which started in 2012, will advance the technology for transition to an acquisition program. Phase II technology efforts will concentrate on demonstrating a rep-rate fire capability. Thermal management techniques required for sustained firing rates will be developed for both the launcher system and the pulsed power system.

The railgun is a true warfighter game changer. Wide-area coverage, exceptionally quick response and very deep magazines will extend the reach and lethality of ships armed with this technology.

[XrGrimreaprX]

0:14 The sound when your sitting on the toilet and you fart

[pocket]

I was stationed on this base for two years while learning the AEGIS weapon system...so much weird shit around this seemingly deserted base.  
 

[grindcoreninja]

I remember playing through Halo 2 as a kid and being awed by the railguns and what not of the fiction, now we're putting the shit on our warships.

[legonatter]

I first heard of this gun in Transformers 2: ROFT when it was fired at Devastator. I thought it didn't exist and that it was just something that Bay made up, but holy shit it's real.

[nokithecat]

Eat Beans and your Ass can do that too! (O.o)