General Atomics to develop US Navy railgun power modules
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded General Atomics a contract for developing power supply modules for railgun pulse power containers, the company announced on 11 February.
Under the contract, General Atomics will research, develop, fabricate and test the power supply modules. Each railgun pulse power container has a number of modules that provide compact, energy-dense, portable energy for firing projectiles from the electromagnetic railgun launcher.
The navy has already authorised three prototype pulse power containers for delivery in 2015. Work will be done at San Diego and in General Atomics’ manufacturing facility in Tupelo, Mississippi.
The award is a modification of an existing contract between General Atomics and the office of naval research for designing and developing the electromagnetic railgun repetition rate pulse power system.
More from Naval Warfare
-
RTX confirms US Marine Corps and US Navy acquire Hadalus UUV
RTX told Shephard that the Hadalus UUV has been procured by the US Marine Corps and the Office of Naval Research for operational experimentation as the company prepares additional demonstrations with the US Navy, NATO and AUKUS partners.
-
Europe’s naval contractors benefit from growing refit and upgrade demand
Rheinmetall’s order to modernise the German Navy frigate Bayern points to a wider European shift towards extending warship service life as new-build programmes face delay.
-
The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement
The UK will spend an estimated US$3.89 billion over the next decade in joint naval programmes, a lot of which will be in cooperation with Norway.
-
Rheinmetall’s GMF 140: Ambitious frigate or market misfit?
Rheinmetall has unveiled its first next-generation frigate design, showing ambitions to compete as a surface combatant prime contractor. While the company is targeting North America, analysts believe the concept may be better positioned for future European programmes.
-
US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production
The US Department of War’s US$76.6 billion Columbia-and Virginia-class submarine contract gives industry demand certainty as Washington seeks to rebuild its shipbuilding base.
-
Dreadnought Phase 4 opens £2.5 billion supply chain opportunity
The UK government’s £8.4 billion Dreadnought Phase 4 investment sets aside £2.5 billion for the wider submarine supply chain, opening new work beyond BAE Systems’ prime contract.