A United States Navy admiral is pushing to have a working electromagnetic railgun installed aboard a high-tech warship in order to utilize the energy output of the vessel's built-in power plant.

Railguns are armaments that make use of electricity instead of gunpowder to launch a projectile at speeds that are six or seven times faster than sound. This motion allows the projectile to gather enough kinetic energy to destroy its intended target.

The Navy has already begun developing a functional railgun with its eyes set on having a working unit ready for testing at sea. However, the high-tech weapon requires a suitable platform that would provide it with energy to accelerate its projectile.

Admiral Pete Fanta, director of surface warfare for the Navy, has suggested that the plan to create a prototype electromagnetic railgun should be scrapped in favor of placing an operational unit on a Zumwalt-class destroyer, the USS Lyndon B. Johnson, which is being constructed at the Bath Iron Works.

"The Zumwalt-class is one of a number of options being explored for the electromagnetic railgun," Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Hayley Sims said.

"Due to the size, weight and power requirements, some platforms will be better suited for the technology than others."

Zumwalt-Class Destroyers

Officials have been eyeing the Zumwalt-class destroyers as a potential candidate to carry electromagnetic railgun since the warship program was launched. The USS Johnson, which is scheduled to be finished in 2018, will be the third and final warship of its class.

The 600-foot-long destroyers are fitted with marine turbines that resembled those that power the Boeing 777. These turbines are capable of generating as much as 78 megawatts worth of electricity to propel the warship as well as operate its sensors and weaponry. It is also enough power to fire a railgun.

If Fanta's proposal pushes through, the electromagnetic weapon would replace one of the destroyer's 155mm guns, which uses rocket-propelled projectiles.

As of the moment, the government's official plan is to have a prototype railgun tested while onboard a high speed naval vessel this year. However, there are concerns that the scheduled test could be postponed until 2017.

Fanta explained that the railgun as well as laser-based weaponry are two advanced technologies that came about as a product of scientific research and practical engineering.

The U.S. Navy is looking to use these weapons, along with high-tech munitions, to replace existing armaments on naval ships. These technologies are not only lethal, but they would cost the government a lot less to use.

Photo: Marion Doss | Flickr