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The electro-magnetic gun program gets US$14.7 million
Gizmag ^ | 7/7/06 | Gizmag

Posted on 07/07/2006 1:12:03 PM PDT by Reaganesque

July 7, 2006 The United States Navy has awarded two contracts for the development of an electro-magnetic gun system capable of deployment on board naval surface combatant ships. The development work preliminary design for an Electro-Magnetic (EM) railgun prototype and the preliminary design of the U.S Navy's 32 megajoule (MJ) Laboratory Launcher. An electro-magnetic railgun uses electrical energy to accelerate projectiles to extreme velocities. Railguns do not require powders or explosives to fire the round and therefore free magazine space for other mission areas. In addition, electro-magnetic guns provide a highly consistent and uniform explosive charge that gives much greater accuracy. Thirty-two megajoule is equivalent to a firing speed of Mach 8 or eight times the speed of sound. This will be an intermediate step on the road to a 64-MJ Tactical System capable of deployment on-board naval surface combatant ships.

The development work includes a US$9.3 million contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop technologies and preliminary design for an Electro-Magnetic (EM) railgun prototype and a US$5.4M contract from Naval Special Warfare Center-Dahlgren for the design and fabrication of the U.S Navy's 32 megajoule (MJ) Laboratory Launcher.

BAE Systems was selected by ONR to advance to the next phase of the Innovative Naval Prototype Program. Under this 30-month phase, BAE Systems will take the state-of-the-art Electro-Magnetic Railgun technologies through technology maturation and develop a preliminary design of a 32-MJ EM Railgun. Thirty-two megajoule is equivalent to a firing speed of Mach 8 or eight times the speed of sound. This will be an intermediate step on the road to a 64-MJ Tactical System capable of deployment on-board naval surface combatant ships. The design and fabrication of the 32-MJ Laboratory Launcher will serve as a major step towards development of a full-scale tactical EM Gun weapon system for the U.S. Navy.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: bang; emgun; miltech; navy; railgun
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To: piytar

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


81 posted on 07/07/2006 5:11:33 PM PDT by ffusco (Maecilius Fuscus,Governor of Longovicium , Manchester, England. 238-244 AD)
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To: wyattearp
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.
82 posted on 07/07/2006 5:36:21 PM PDT by Little Ray (If you want to be a martyr, we want to martyr you.)
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To: Reaganesque

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


83 posted on 07/07/2006 6:05:00 PM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah" = Satan in disguise)
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To: RonF

"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.


84 posted on 07/07/2006 6:23:58 PM PDT by EEDUDE (Don't measure your wealth in dollars and cents.)
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To: Centurion2000
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.


85 posted on 07/07/2006 6:48:32 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (!st Amendment: We can't trust ANYONE to control the public discourse.)
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To: Reaganesque
"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.
86 posted on 07/07/2006 7:53:46 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Mogollon; Joe Brower; archy; Eaker

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?


87 posted on 07/07/2006 10:25:06 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Illegal immigration Control and Border Security -The jobs George W. Bush doesn't want to do.)
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To: TalonDJ

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.


88 posted on 07/07/2006 10:30:59 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Illegal immigration Control and Border Security -The jobs George W. Bush doesn't want to do.)
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To: Radix
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?)

89 posted on 07/07/2006 10:36:47 PM PDT by mysto ("I am ZOT proof" --- famous last words of a troll.)
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To: mc6809e; marktwain
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.

90 posted on 07/08/2006 7:59:09 AM PDT by Joe Brower (The Constitution defines Conservatism. *NRA*)
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