Revolutionizing Air Defense: Army Develops 155-mm Cannon System Using Former Navy Railgun Technology

The Army is now exploring the development of a new air defense system based on technology from a former Navy electromagnetic railgun program. This new system would utilize ammunition developed for the railgun, which was discontinued in 2022.

The Military Defense Acquisition Challenge (MDAC) aims to create a 155-mm artillery cannon-based air defense system capable of firing Hypervelocity projectiles (HVP)s. This system would be integrated into a wheeled platform, providing enhanced expeditionary utility and reducing munition costs.

The Army has issued a “request for information” to gauge the capabilities of potential suppliers for this project. The railgun technology, originally intended to support Marines, ground forces, and ships, will now be repurposed for this new air defense system.

IAP Research, a key subcontractor in the Navy’s railgun program, played a significant role in the development of the technology for over a decade. In 2017, BAE Systems acquired IAP Research, which had around 40 employees at the time.

The railgun technology made headlines in 2010 with a test shot at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va., where a 23-pound test projectile was fired at a speed of 1.5 miles per second. This technology uses electromagnetic fields instead of gunpowder and was originally built for the Office of Naval Research.

BAE Systems, with offices in Riverside, Kettering, and Fairborn, is involved in this new project. The company representative has been contacted for further information on their role in the development of this advanced air defense system.