Britain's largest defense firm, BAE Systems, plc, one of two companies developing an electromagnetic railgun for use aboard U.S. Navy warships, demonstrated its version of this game changing weapon that's ushering in the age of hypersonic kinetic weapons that destroy targets with massive force.

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Initially designed as a shore bombardment weapon to cover amphibious assaults of U.S. Marines, the railgun uses electromagnetic energy to fire a conventional, non-explosive 10 kg shell at a speed of up to 8,700 km/h to a range of 160 km. It can also fire special hypervelocity projectiles (HVPs) out to 185 km at Mach 6 (7,400 km/h).

The railgun demonstrated by BAE was a 32 megajoule weapon and the test apparently went well as can be seen from videos of the event. BAE explained its railgun technology uses high-power electromagnetic energy instead of explosive chemical propellants to launch projectiles farther and faster than any previous system.

It's currently in Phase 2 of the Electromagnetic Railgun Innovative Naval Prototype program. During this phase, it will advance the railgun by maturing the launcher and pulsed power from a single shot operation to a multi-shot capability.

Auto-loading and thermal management systems will also be incorporated, and BAE received a $34.5 million contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to pursue these efforts.

BAE is also pursuing the development of HVPs, a next-generation, guided projectile capable of completing multiple missions for the railgun, as well as existing 5-inch and 155 mm gun systems aboard U.S. Navy warships.

The U.S. Navy is evaluating two EM railgun models. One is from BAE while the other is the 32 megajoule railgun named "Blitzer" developed by the American defense contractor, the Electromagnetic Systems Group of General Atomics (GA-EMS).

GA-EMS previously developed, built and successfully tested two railguns: the internally funded the Blitzer 3 MJ system and a 32 MJ launcher for ONR.

"The electromagnetic railgun is among several disruptive capabilities that the Naval Research Enterprise is championing to ensure a dominant, capable and relevant naval force for the future," said Chief of Naval Research Rear Admiral Mat Winter.

TagsBAE Systems, electromagnetic railgun, Railgun, U.S. Navy, hypervelocity projectiles, HVPs, Office of naval research