THE TENSION: U.S. Navy Demonstrates World's Most Powerful Railgun

DAHLGREN, Va. (Jan. 31, 2008) Photograph taken from a high-speed video camera during a record-setting firing of an electromagnetic railgun (EMRG) at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Va., on January 31, 2008, firing at 10.64MJ (megajoules) with a muzzle velocity of 2520 meters per second. The Office of Naval Research's EMRG program is part of the Department of the Navy's Science and Technology investments, focused on developing new technologies to support Navy and Marine Corps war fighting needs. This photograph is a frame taken from a high-speed video camera. U.S. Navy Photograph (Released)

DAHLGREN, Va. (Jan. 28, 2008) The Office of Naval Research (ONR) 32 MJ (megajoules) Electromagnetic Railgun (EMRG) laboratory launcher, located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in Dahlgren, Va., is the result of Naval Science and Technology research being developed by ONR as one of several Innovative Naval Prototypes. Future U.S. Navy ships will be powered by electric drive propulsion, making EMRG - which uses electricity rather than chemical propellants to launch projectiles - possible. U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams (Released)

DAHLGREN, Va. (Jan. 28, 2007) Particle debris ignites as a test slug exits the Office of Naval Research 32 MJ (megajoules) Electromagnetic Railgun aboratory launcher during a test at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. U.S. Navy photo John F. Williams (Released)

DAHLGREN, Va. (Jan. 28, 2007) A test slug impacts the target after being fired from the Office of Naval Research 32 MJ (megajoule) Electromagnetic Railgun laboratory launcher during a test at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. U.S. Navy photo John F. Williams (Released)

DAHLGREN, Va. (Nov. 28, 2007) The Office of Naval Research 32 MJ (megajoules) Electromagnetic Railgun (EMRG) laboratory launcher, located on board the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, is operational and preparing to set the world record for the highest muzzle energy launch of a projectile 10 MJ. When operational, the rail gun will fire projectiles at ranges in excess of 200 nautical miles. U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams (Released)

DAHLGREN, Va. (Jan. 16, 2006) - Andrew Wyman, center, range test engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), explains the impact from the Electromagnetic Railgun (EMRG) to Rear Adm. William E. Landay, Chief of Naval Research, left, and Rear Adm. Victor G. Guillory, Deputy Director of Surface Warfare, following a ribbon cutting ceremony for the EM Launch Facility. The mission of the EMRG program is to develop the science and technology necessary to design, test, produce, and install a revolutionary 64 Mega Joule EMRG aboard U.S. Navy ships in the 2020-2025 timeframe. U.S. Navy photo by Mr. John F. Williams (RELEASED)

DAHLGREN, Va. (Jan. 16, 2006) - Dr. Elizabeth D'Andrea, Office of Naval Research Code 352 Program Manager, right, discusses the Electromagnetic Railgun (EMRG) program with Rear Adm. William E. Landay, Chief of Naval Research, prior to a ribbon cutting ceremony for the EM Launch Facility at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD). The mission of the EMRG program is to develop the science and technology necessary to design, test, produce, and install a revolutionary 64 Mega Joule EMRG aboard U.S. Navy ships in the 2020-2025 timeframe. U.S. Navy photo by Mr. John F. Williams (RELEASED)

Also see: Additional Imagery: World-record Navy Railgun Test Firing

Focus On Defense:

NOTE: THIS IS AN UPDATED POST

DAHLGREN, Va. Feb. 1, 2008 (NNS) -- The Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) successfully conducted a record-setting firing of an electromagnetic rail gun at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren.

An invited audience, including the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, who witnessed this revolutionary technology in action.

Roughead noted, "We should never lose sight of always looking for the next big thing, always looking to make our capability better, more effective than what anyone else can put on the battlefield."

He emphasized, "I never ever want to see a Sailor or Marine in a fair fight. I always want them to have the advantage."

ONR's Electromagnetic Rail Gun (EMRG) program is part of the Department of the Navy's Science and Technology investments, focused on developing new technologies to support Navy and Marine Corps war fighting needs.

ONR has facilitated a key partnership between leading scientists and engineers from Boeing, Charles Stark Draper Lab, Inc., General Atomics, Department of Energy (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), U.S. Naval Academy, Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Sea Systems Command (PMS 500), Naval Surface Warfare Center – Carderock and Dahlgren Divisions, the U.S. Army and United Kingdom.

"We are seeing the culmination of years of research coming together to bring focus to exciting new technology," said Chief of Naval Research, Rear Adm. Bill Landay. "Here at ONR we are striving to move S&T from vision to results."

The technology uses high power electromagnetic energy instead of explosive chemical propellants (energetics) to propel a projectile farther and faster than any preceding gun. At full capability, the rail gun will be able to fire a projectile more than 200 nautical miles at a muzzle velocity of mach seven and impacting its target at mach five. In contrast, the current Navy gun, MK 45 five-inch gun, has a range of nearly 20 miles. The high velocity projectile will destroy its targets due to its kinetic energy rather than with conventional explosives.

The safety aspect of the rail gun is one of its greatest potential advantages, according to Dr. Elizabeth D'Andrea, ONR's Electromagnetic Railgun Program Manager. Safety on board ship is increased because no explosives are required to fire the projectile and no explosive rounds are stored in the ship's magazine.

Science and technology challenges met by ONR in the development of the rail gun include development of the launcher, pulse power generation and the guided projectile design. The program's goal is to demonstrate a full capability, integrated railgun prototype by 2016-2018.

(Complied from an Office of Naval Research Public Affairs press release and U.S. Navy imagery.)

Previously:
Navy Aims to Break Electromagnetic Railgun Record
U.S. Navy Sets Railgun Record

Related:
View a clip of an electromagnetic railgun launch.
Obtain ONR's electromagnetic railgun briefing.

U.S. Navy Electromagnetic Railgun Program Web Site