Navy ditches futuristic gun plans, eyes hypersonic missiles
Associated Press
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FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, file photo provided by the US Navy, a high-speed camera image captures a full-energy shot by an electromagnetic railgun prototype launcher at a test facility in Dahlgren, Va. The Navy has pulled the plug on research on the futuristic weapon that fires projectiles at up to seven times the speed of sound using electricity. A Navy spokesperson says the decision frees up resources for hypersonic missiles, laser systems and electronic warfare systems. (U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams via AP, File)FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, file photo provided by the U.S. Navy, Gary Bass, left, and Jim Poyner, from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, take measurements after a successful test firing of an electromagnetic railgun prototype launcher at a test facility in Dahlgren, Va. The U.S. Navy pulled the plug, for now, on a futuristic weapon that fires projectiles at up to seven times the speed of sound using electricity. The Navy spent more than a decade developing the electromagnetic railgun and once considered putting them on the stealthy new Zumwalt-class destroyers built at Maine's Bath Iron Works. (U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams via AP, File)FILE - This Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, file photo provided by the U.S. Navy, shows an electromagnetic railgun prototype launcher at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division test facility in Dahlgren, Va. The Navy has pulled the plug on research on the futuristic weapon that fires projectiles at up to seven times the speed of sound using electricity. A Navy spokesperson says the decision frees up resources for hypersonic missiles, laser systems and electronic warfare systems. (U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams via AP, File)
FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, file photo provided by the US Navy, a high-speed camera image captures a full-energy shot by an electromagnetic railgun prototype launcher at a test facility in Dahlgren, Va. The Navy has pulled the plug on research on the futuristic weapon that fires projectiles at up to seven times the speed of sound using electricity. A Navy spokesperson says the decision frees up resources for hypersonic missiles, laser systems and electronic warfare systems. (U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams via AP, File)
