The video above is the first firing of the Navy's electromagnetic railgun testbed. Today, this gun will be fired at a energy level never before seen. According to the Navy press release:
"The Office of Naval Research will test fire an electromagnetic railgun (EMRG) at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Va. on Jan. 31, 2008, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST. The gun will be fired at over 10 megajoules of energy – a power level never before achieved by an EMRG."
For those who don't know, an electromagnetic railgun a gun that uses electrical energy to propel a projectile, rather than the chemical energy usually employed. Without the limitations of explosive gases, railguns can achieve extremely high velocities. They potentially have greater destructive energy, range and accuracy than conventional guns and explosive rounds. Their speed should make them suitable for missle defense. Ammo will be cheap, and since it's inert will be safe to store and transport.
The Navy is planning the use of railguns in their new DD(X) Stealth Destroyer.
No comments:
Post a Comment