General Atomics tests railgun projectile

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has conducted testing of hypersonic projectiles with prototype components for its Guidance Electronics Unit (GEU) at the US Army Dugway Proving Ground in Utah.

The testing saw the projectiles successfully perform programmed actions and communicate component performance to a ground station via a telemetry link. The GEU, housed in the aerodynamically stable test projectile, consists of a number of components, including integrated navigation sensors and processors for guidance, navigation and control.

Five test projectiles were fired from GA-EMS' 3 mega joule Blitzer electromagnetic railgun system at accelerations greater than 30,000 times that of gravity (>30,000 gees). 

The projectiles and the critical components within them experienced, survived and operated in the multi-Tesla magnetic field within the launcher and the overall launch environment. According to the company, all of the GEU components performed as expected during and after the launch event, and through multiple seconds of aero-stable flight.

Nick Bucci, vice president, missile defense and space systems, GA-EMS, said: ‘This latest testing series completes the risk reduction and technology maturation of the individual components of our electromagnetic railgun launched hypersonic projectiles.

‘We continue to fire and test our projectiles in an open range setting, allowing us to collect and analyse a significant amount of performance data under real-world conditions.’

GA-EMS' Blitzer railgun is a test asset designed to advance technology development toward multi-mission railgun weapon systems. Railguns launch projectiles using electromagnetic forces instead of chemical propellants and can deliver muzzle velocities greater than twice those of conventional guns.