Railgun test scheduled

ARLINGTON, Va. - Navy leaders will be on hand Friday at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division for a record-setting test of the experimental electromagnetic railgun. The Navy will fire a 32-megajoule muzzle energy shot, a new world record. The railgun uses electricity to propel a projectile at high velocity to destroy a target with kinetic energy rather than explosives. A future tactical electromagnetic railgun will hit targets at ranges almost 20 times farther than conventional surface ship combat systems. The railgun is being developed for use on a wide range of ships, including the DDG 1000 and DDG 51. (Source: NNS, 12/08/10) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman builds DDG 51s in Mississippi, as well as the deck house, helicopter hangar and peripheral vertical laucher system cells for the DDG 1000.