General Atomics completes railgun and powder gun testing contract
General Atomics worked closely with the Navy’s Dahlgren Division, using equipment like this railgun. (Photo: US Navy)
General Atomics has announced further success with the development of gun-launched projectile designs.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) with the US Army and Navy have completed a major test series to advance the state-of-the-art in gun-launched defensive projectile interceptor designs.
Identical projectile designs were fired from a railgun at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and a powder gun at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah.
The projectiles reached record hypersonic velocities from the railgun launch and tested the projectiles' guided flight capabilities from both gun systems.
General Atomics delivered the projectiles with integrated gun-hardened guidance electronics to test their capability to sustain data links and control trajectory while the projectiles undergo intense G-Forces at hypersonic speeds.
The projectiles were developed to contain guidance electronics and control actuation systems.
During the test, the projectiles were launched using the Navy’s 32-megajoule railgun system and a 120mm powder gun.
Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS, commented that with these tests: ‘We have completed our contract to fabricate, deliver, and test prototype projectiles in railgun and powder gun environments’.
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Rostec unveils new infantry fighting vehicle]()
World Defense Show 2026: Rostec unveils new infantry fighting vehicle
The latest infantry fighting vehicle from Rosoboronexport draws on experience from the war in Ukraine, and is designed to be more lethal and more survivable than its predecessors.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: ST Engineering’s Rhino 4x4 set to enter service]()
World Defense Show 2026: ST Engineering’s Rhino 4x4 set to enter service
The Rhino 4x4 protected vehicle is being manufactured for an undisclosed country, likely to be Singapore, while its Agil counter-UAS C2 system is in low-rate production.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Saudi Arabia’s record defence spend highlights uncertain times]()
World Defense Show 2026: Saudi Arabia’s record defence spend highlights uncertain times
Saudi Arabia’s investment in its land forces, notably in the area of air defence as recently as 30 January, is a sign of the challenges the Gulf State faces, particularly the threat from Houthi rebels in Yemen.
-
![Singapore Airshow 2026: ST Engineering’s Terrex s5 highlights hybrid power’s role in future warfare]()
Singapore Airshow 2026: ST Engineering’s Terrex s5 highlights hybrid power’s role in future warfare
Hybrid-electric drive technology may address the growing energy demands of land warfare in future.
-
![CAVS rides a wave and prepares for surge requirements as orders roll in]()
CAVS rides a wave and prepares for surge requirements as orders roll in
The Common Armoured Vehicle System is continuing to rack up orders as the British Army looks likely to become an operator of the vehicle, while Italy and Ireland are also contenders.
-
![US DoD task force’s DroneHunter acquisition lays groundwork for Replicator 2 CUAS strategy]()
US DoD task force’s DroneHunter acquisition lays groundwork for Replicator 2 CUAS strategy
As the US Department of Defense looks to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems to improve homeland security, the DroneHunter acquisition could point to future commercial innovation.
