The
Electromagnetic Railgun—a weapon that will play a significant
role in the future of the U.S. Navy—will be on display to the
public for the first time on the East Coast Feb. 4-5 at the Naval Future
Force Science and Technology (S&T) EXPO in Washington, D.C., officials
at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced. |
With
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert set as the event’s
keynote speaker on Feb. 4, the EXPO promises to be a window into the
future of the U.S. Navy, showcasing the latest advances in power projection
and force protection.
“This year’s Expo will showcase the naval portfolio of innovative
breakthrough technologies that are shaping our warfighting tactics today
and changing the way our Sailors and Marines will operate in the future,”
said Chief of Naval Research (CNR) Rear Adm. Mat Winter. “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.”
Experts from ONR, Naval Sea Systems Command and BAE Systems, Inc., will
be on hand at the display and in breakout sessions to address the technical
developments of the weapon.
The Railgun program continues to move swiftly toward scheduled at-sea
testing in 2016. Its revolutionary technology relies on electricity
instead of traditional chemical propellants, with magnetic fields created
by high electrical currents launching projectiles at distances over
100 nautical miles—and at speeds that exceed Mach 6, or six times
the speed of sound.
That velocity allows the weapon’s projectiles to rely on kinetic
energy for maximum effect, and reduces the amount of high explosives
needed to be carried on ships. It also minimizes the dangers of unexploded
ordnance remaining on the battlefield.
“The Electromagnetic Railgun brings significant technological
advances to our Sailors and Marines,” said Roger Ellis, program
manager at ONR. “As the system moves forward along its planned
schedule from the laboratory launcher, we’ve achieved breakthroughs
in compact power and gun design, and will test the next phase of prototype
at both sea- and land-based sites in 2016 and 2017.”
The Naval Future Force S&T EXPO is the Navy’s premier event
to share information, discuss research opportunities and build science
and technology partnerships between the Navy and Marine Corps, industry
and academia. Formerly titled the Science and Technology Partnership
Conference, the biennial event draws thousands of attendees from around
the world.
In addition to the CNO and CNR, speakers will include Dr. Robert Ballard,
acclaimed discoverer of the Titanic; Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Research, Development and Acquisition) the Honorable Sean Stackley;
Nobel Prize winners; leaders from the Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Air Force, Army
and many more.
The event also will feature unique one-on-one opportunities for dialogue
in breakout sessions with ONR program managers. |
