Navy’s New Railgun Shoots Mach 7 Projectile 110 Nautical Miles
How would you like to “reach out and touch” someone 110 nautical miles away? Well America’s Navy may soon be able to do exactly that with an amazing new, high-tech weapon system. BAE Systems has developed (and successfully test-fired) an electro-magnetic rail gun that fires a 23-lb projectile at Mach 7 — (about 5300 mph or 7800 fps). This futuristic weapon can send its projectile 110 nautical miles (126 mi / 203 km), five times the range of the big 16″ guns on WWII-era battleships. This railgun has serious “knock-down” power — at Mach 7, that projectile carries a whopping 32 megajoules of energy. BreakingDefense.com says: “23 pounds ain’t heavy. But it sure hurts when it hits you going at seven times the speed of sound.”
Watch Video to See Navy Rail-Gun in Action:
The latest prototype of the railgun developed by defense contractor BAE, in conjunction with the Office of Naval Research, can accelerate a projectile up to Mach 7 within 10 milliseconds. The gun uses no gunpowder to generate propelling force. Compared to an item on a smaller scale, the railgun projectiles resemble crossbow darts, except they deliver such massive Kinetic Energy they don’t need to carry explosive ordnance. The railgun can strike targets 110 nautical miles away.
To prepare a charge, the ship stores electricity in the pulsed power system. Next, an electric pulse is sent to the railgun, creating an electromagnetic force accelerating the projectile. Because of its extreme speed, the projectile eliminates the hazards of storing high explosives in the ship. Each shot costs about $25,000 — but that’s cheap compared to the price of a missile.
“It’s like a flux capacitor,” chief of Naval research Rear Admiral Mathias Winter said in a video posted by Reuters Friday. “You’re sitting here thinking about these next generation and futuristic ideas, and we’ve got scientists who have designed these, and it’s coming to life.”
The Electromagnetic Railgun Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) was initiated in 2005. The goal during Phase I was to produce a proof-of-concept demonstration at 32 mega-joule muzzle energy, develop launcher technology with adequate service life, develop reliable pulsed power technology, and assess component risk reduction for the projectile.
Phase II, which started in 2012, advanced the technology to demonstrate a repeatable-rate fire capability. Thermal-management techniques required for sustained firing rates will be developed for both the launcher system and the pulsed power system. The railgun will begin testing at sea in 2016.
Story concept from CTD Shooter’s Log.
Similar Posts:
- Navy’s BAE Railgun Shoots Projectile 203 Kilometers at Mach 7
- .17 Incinerator — Ultimate Varmint Cartridge with Mach 5 Speed
- .17 Incinerator Based on .50 BMG Delivers Mach 5 Velocity!
- Hornady's Dave Emary Honored
- Sub-Sonic, Sonic, Supersonic — Bullet Traces at Three Velocities
Share the post "Navy’s New Railgun Shoots Mach 7 Projectile 110 Nautical Miles"
Would have loved to have had one of those on the Guided Missile Cruiser and Guided Missile Destroyer I served in. GO NAVY!
Its always fascinating to see what can be done. I feel the danger is more or less transferred into a different form. Small amounts of electricity are used to temporarily shock fish. Imagine what would happen to the crew and or surrounding wildlife should this sink on a ship. Cool? Yes. Safer alternative? Im not sold.
I don’t mind my tax dollars going to this, anything that helps our soldiers stay safe and away from the enemy, build it. Plus, I want to have a custom rail gun for prairie dog hunting in 50 years.
So now the big question is what is a 1/4 MOA at 110 miles and can the gun group that well?
Putting that much electricity in a boat reminds me of all the osha safety videos where they guy uses power tools in the swimming pool.
Thank god it doesn’t use Varget as a propellant.
When is Hornady coming out with a Vmax for this? Would make a fine groundhog setup.
1/4 minute at 110 miles should be 37.4′ if I did my math right. Can they put a payload in it though… if not once reaching 110 miles will it be like watching Marvin the Martian land on the moon nose first.
Unclear what the terminal velocity is at 110 mi., unlikely anywhere near Mach 7.
I wonder why there is still a flame behind the projectile? That is very bizarre ???
What is the recoil like? YOu can not put a muzzle brake on that baby as there should not be any propelling gases behind projectile!
The shape of the projectile is not very aerodynamic.
Editor: Nic, look at the top video carefully all the way through. The projectile is a needle-like dart with fins. It is carried in sabot with a square shape. The Sabot is discarded when the projectile leaves the rail gun muzzle. We’re not sure about the source of the flames, but it may be part of the sabot vaporizing and burning…
waiting for hand held model.
Why in hell do we give the enemy ….secret weapons info /pictures/schematics … I think all weapons should stay secret… Even in use….in today age….come on people stop giving all Americas enemies ….our winning hand…
I see the physics of this high speed projectile has some people confused about the fire around the projectiles’ path. Just think about what is happening, as when a similar high speed meteor enters the earth’s atmosphere, and you will have your answer. With initial velocities this high, the projectiles are causing the air to ignite for a short distance around them. That’s just how fast they are traveling!
Gonzo, schematics have not been given. You’ll notice the pictures show a railgun enclosed by a pretty thorough casing. All the thermal management goodies, vital to making this thing feasible, are hidden. The only message sent to our enemies is “This costs 1/100th of an equivalent missile engagement. Still want to attack?”