The Navy has begun evaluating the second prototype electromagnetic (EM) railgun being developed by General Atomics and designed to capitalize on the potential of using electricity to launch projectiles instead of traditional gun propellants.
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) said yesterday it has started to test the General Atomics launcher at a Naval Surface Warfare Center division in Dahlgren, Va., months after beginning evaluations of a competing railgun built by BAE Systems and delivered Jan. 30.
The EM railgun launcher is intended as a long-range weapon that utilizes magnetic fields created by high electrical currents to fire projectiles along two rails at speeds that can reach 4,500-5,600 mph.
“It’s exciting to see how two different teams are both delivering very relevant but unique launcher solutions,” Roger Ellis, the EM railgun program manager, said.
General Atomics and BAE have also begun work on the next phase of the program to develop follow-on prototypes with the purpose of increasing firing rates.
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