Blitzer railgun demo at US Army MFIX
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) successfully demonstrated its Blitzer electromagnetic railgun at the US Army’s annual Maneuver and Fires Integration Experiment (MFIX), the company announced on 25 April.
MFIX is an annual exercise that brings together military and industry partners to inform requirements, validate/refine concepts, address capability gaps, and assess solutions for incorporation into the future army warfighting assessments.
During the event, the railgun was fired eleven times at a target at a greater range than previous firings. Following the completion of the experiment, the railgun will be transported to the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah for further testing later in 2016.
Nick Bucci, vice president, missile defense and space systems, GA-EMS, said: ‘This event marks another milestone for our railgun team. After the successful test firings of our guidance electronics units at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah one month ago, we disassembled the Blitzer railgun system and transported it to Fort Sill where it was set-up and fired during the MFIX event.
‘Our goal was met in showing how our advanced weapon system can be efficiently transported from site to site. Testing our system under real world conditions at different locales enables us to gather the critical data necessary to improve the system’s efficiency to meet future customer mobility requirements.’
More from Land Warfare
-
NATO demonstrates equipment and prototype innovations in Crystal Arrow Exercise
The Crystal Arrow Exercise is being used by NATO as a way to put new equipment such as uncrewed ground and aerial vehicles into the hands of alliance users, particularly Latvian and Baltic forces.
-
CSG’s new CFL-120 Karpat medium tank demonstrates move to modularity
Built using proven parts across three countries, the CFL-120 uses a Turkish chassis, an Italian turret and Czech integration to reflect a modular approach to tank design.
-
Team LionStrike fleshes out UK Land Mobility Programme bid
At an industry press day this week, Shephard's Christopher Foss looked more closely at Team LionStrike's line-up.
-
NATO boosts uncrewed usage and shifts on concept of operations based on lessons learned from Ukraine
The war in Ukraine remains a focus of procurement, concepts of operation, tactics and training for NATO countries. The Crystal Arrow Exercise in Latvia, ongoing until 15 May, is a reflection of this.