How is an electromagnetic (EM) railgun important in U.S. naval combat?
A news release from the Command Office of the Naval Sea Systems announced the planned installation and testing of a prototype electromagnetic (EM) railgun aboard a high-speed naval vessel, by 2016. Such testing will mark an EM railgun being tested and demonstrated at sea for the first time. This symbolizes a significant naval combat advancement.
EM Railgun Technology
The technology behind the EM railgun is the use of Lorenz Force, an electromagnetic force that allows two conductive rails to be fired at a projectile at speeds reaching 5,600 mph, outperforming conventional weapons.
High-velocity launching of the guided projectile will allow the U.S. Navy to achieve far-reaching ranges compared to conventional guns. Sufficient kinetic energy is maintained so that it doesn’t need a high explosive payload of any kind to reach a target.
Energetic Weapons
The high-energy EM railguns are designed to be lethal and effective against multiple threats. These threats include:
- small boats
- aircraft
- missiles
- land-based targets
- enemy warships
Cost-Effective And Technology-Backed Offensive Facility
A new and cost-effective offensive capability for the U.S. Navy is now a reality because of the EM railguns. According to the Chief Engineer of the U.S. Navy, such technology will allow the Navy to respond to a wide array of possible attacks effectively, at a much lower cost than using traditional missile ammunition. Railgun projectile costs about $25,000 compared to $500,000 to $1.5 million for a missile.
The initial development of EM railgun technology through 2011 had cost the US Navy some $250 million and estimates about the same amount required for the EM railgun to be fielded.
Advantages
- The EM railgun technology offers the following specific advantages:
- Lower cost of engagement compared to missile engagements
- The projectile is designed to be common with some current powder guns
- Expensive missiles are conserved to be used against more complex threats
- Sailors and ships are kept safe as there is no need to carry high-explosive weapons on board the vessel
The Future of Naval Combat
EM railguns have deemed the future of naval combat. The U.S. Navy is moving along with the changing times by being at the forefront of technology. Apart from improving their naval fleet – by doing some needed enhancements such as the installation of marine engine mounts to control the noise and vibration coming from the engines and other parts of the vessel, improving speed, among others, the U.S. Navy and its industry partners have been working and testing railgun technology at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Virginia. The Naval Research Lab houses a number of prototype systems the Navy had already developed and built.
Are we to see more of these technology-backed naval offensive facilities in the future?
Article Sources:
http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com
http://www.engadget.com
http://blog.al.com
From what I understand, the U.S. Navy hopes to use the electromagnetic railgun as an offshore weapon attached to its warships. I heard that the next generation naval warships are expected to be outfitted with the electromagnetic railgun around 2020. In theory, the electromagnetic railgun could fire on an entire battlefield from offshore. It is also believed that this type of weapon has the potential to end conflicts quickly with less force than a nuclear bomb.
Much of the literature on electronic magnetic pulse (EMP) tech is either classified or not easily accessible. Probably because of this, some of what is openly available tends to vary in accuracy — some, especially from the Internet, has major inaccuracies. Some discussions of EMP have the right words and concepts, but do not quite have them put together right, or have inaccurate interpretations. Still, you have to think that if the military is working on this, it must have some strategic advantage.