The electro-magnetic gun program gets US$14.7 million

Gizmag ^ | 7/7/06 | Gizmag

[ffusco]

Wouldn't the hull be Farady shieding for the reactor, assuming the reactor is isolated from the hull?

[Little Ray]

Like the Lt. Leary series he is writing right now. Also his Lord of the Isles series, but that one is gettin' a bit repetitive.

[TXnMA]

Wonder how they propose to shield the rest of the ship's electronics from that massive, surging magnetic field?

[EEDUDE]

"No, but I bet the electrical system takes up a bit more room."

Yep.

Very large banks of capacitors to provide the energy.

Unless there is a need for an extremely high speed projectile for some reason I don't understand I'm not sure this is anything more than a fun toy.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

If you want to think of something even cooler, imagine a CIWS vulcan cannon using something like this.

One shot: nice shooting.

Two shots: well, maybe.

Three shots: missum buck.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

"do not require powders or explosives to fire the round and therefore free magazine space"

Not to mention freeing you from the worry of an incoming round striking your munitions locker, idiots tossing lit cigarettes or magnesium flares into the locker, stray static electricity, and suicidal gays intent on exploding everyone in the turret.

So that your children are properly prepared in science and o become techs in the new Navy, check here for a simple to build Gauss Rifle and electro magnetic rail gun!

http://www.scitoys.com/

Check under magnetism and electro magnatism.

[B4Ranch]

Roughly, that is 3 miles per second! The coming combat missions are going to be fought literally 'over the horizon.'

It seems as if these projectiles are going to have the destructive energy of bombs.

How do we protect our ships if the enemy gets one?

[B4Ranch]

Can you repeat that post in common language? I'm one of those old people who think of plasma as being our blood cell carrier.

[mysto]

When can I get one, and how many boxtops will I have to send in?

Maybe you can collect Pepsi points to get it... like that guy who tried to get the Harrier Jet for 7 million Pepsi points (remember that commercial?)

[Joe Brower]

Thanks for the comments, gents. Quite interesting. Sounds like this technology indeed shows a lot of promise.

As with most hi-tech gadgets, the main problem appears to be an adequate power source. Nothing that can't be resolved with enough time and determination.