Raytheon Delivering First Pulse Power Units For US Navy’s Particle Railgun Program

Raytheon has begun deliveries of its pulse power container modules to power its experimental particle railgun for a $10 million contract.

The Naval Sea Systems Command had asked Raytheon to develop a pulsed power system, which will enable land or sea-based projectiles to reach great distances without the use of an explosive charge or rocket motor, the release added.

"Raytheon has begun deliveries of pulse power containers in support of the US Navy's railgun program," the release stated.

The containers, which are comprised of multiple pulsed power modules, will be integrated into the Navy's railgun test range for additional development and testing, Raytheon noted.

"Directed energy has the potential to redefine military technology beyond missiles and our pulse power modules and containers will provide the tremendous amount of energy required to power applications like the Navy Railgun," Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Vice President Colin Whelan observed.

The modular pulsed power containers, when combined, produce enough energy to enable the electromagnetic launch of a railgun's high-velocity projectile at speeds in excess of Mach 6, or six times the speed of sound, the company said.