The United States Navy will receive the
industries first 32 megajoule EM Railgun prototype and begin testing in
the coming weeks.
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced today that they will begin testing an advanced Electromagnetic Railgun (EMR)
within the next few weeks. The development and testing of this advanced
EMR is the result of a $21 million contract awarded to BAE Systems by
the Office of Naval Research roughly two years ago. For those that may
not know, the ONR is the office within the United States Department of
the Navy that facilitates all science and technology programs for the
U.S Navy and Marine Corps through various institutions, such as
universities and government laboratories.
While most munitions both heavy and small depend on chemical
propellants (like gunpowder), the EM Railgun launcher (as you may have
guessed from its name) utilizes magnetic energy instead. The EM Railgun
propels a conductive projectile along metal rails using a magnetic field
powered by electricity. The magnetic field produced by the high
electric currents thrusts a sliding metal conductor between two rails to
launch a projectile at velocities of 4,500 to 5,600 mph. By contrast,
the average velocity of a chemical propelled weapon is limited to about
2,700 give or take.
So what does that mean? Well, this increased velocity should allow
for the Navy to reach targets of up to 50 to 100 nautical miles away or,
if you’re inner sea-dog is a little rusty, about 57 to 115 miles out.
Navy planners hope to eventually increase that range even further to
distances up to 220 nautical miles (253 miles).
According to ONR, this increase velocity and extended range will give
sailors multi-mission capability, and allow them to conduct precise
naval surface fire support. In addition, ONR states that the EM Railgun
may provide effective ballistic missile defense.
BAE Systems EM Railgun was delivered to the Naval Surface Warfare
Center (NSWC) Dahlgren on January 30, 2012 and features a 32-megajoule
payload. To add some perspective, one megajoule of energy is equivalent
to a one ton car traveling at 100 miles per hour.
* Notíca publicada al Digital Trends. És de gran interés seguir l'evolució dels Railguns, unes armes que, se'ns dubte poden revolucionar el camp de batalla modern, especialment el naval.
Sembla que el Congrès podría anul.lar els fons pel desenvolupament d'aquesta arma revolucionaria.
ResponEliminaSempre ens quedará la polvora.
Colonel Von Rohaut
Ja Pot ser company, les retallades són quelcom temible. Però vaja, dins el camp de la pòlvora queden els Advanced Gun System dels destructors Zumwalt. Coming soon...
Elimina