From NavyTimes

 

The first of two new prototype railguns is now firing bullets, moving the Navy’s long-held dream of fielding an electromagnetic weapon a step closer to reality.

Here's to hoping that they perfect a terminal guidance system that can survive launch.

 

It seems we're getting there, for sure.

 

Without it, even with a projectile that reaches its maximum range in about a minute, moving targets might as well be a million miles away.

 

Heck, even a 30 knot warship will have moved over half a mile.

Here's to hoping that they perfect a terminal guidance system that can survive launch.

Steering something that small going that fast while allowing for some kind of useful accuracy will have to be one of our military's greatest achievments. Even more so if it can be steered into the path of C-803, KH-31 or something of the like traveling at MACH 2-4. Curious if they would put it into the fleet without terminal guidance and use it like the current 5" guns since most of the DDG's will be approaching 25 years old in 2025. Will they continue building DDG's? Is the DD(X)even fitted for it?

Curious if they would put it into the fleet without terminal guidance and use it like the current 5" guns since most of the DDG's will be approaching 25 years old in 2025. Will they continue building DDG's? Is the DD(X)even fitted for it?

 

Burke's continue to be built and barring any upsetting changes from Congress the Flight III Burkes will be new built well past 2025. http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL32109_20110419.pdf has what I think is a very nice overview of some of the choices available. The current working plan is to build the Flight III Burkes.

 

DDG-1000 will carry 155mm guns but could be upgraded to railguns at some future date. http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_61-62_ags.htm (a bit outdated but still carries a nice history of the design changes). DDG-1000 is scheduled to be delivered in 2013.

I think the current research program is due to continue until 2017.

Burke's continue to be built and barring any upsetting changes from Congress the Flight III Burkes will be new built well past 2025. http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL32109_20110419.pdf has what I think is a very nice overview of some of the choices available. The current working plan is to build the Flight III Burkes.

Very interesting this PDF, thanks.

Electromagnetic railgun interesting and almost severe criticism from Popular Mechanics and Defense One (for me the PM spin-off article is better and more condensed than the original Defense One article):

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a21174/navy-electromagnetic-railgun/?mag=pop&list=nl_pnl_news&src=nl&date=060716

http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2016/06/can-navys-electric-cannon-be-saved/128793/