Fire away: Navy launches high speed gun.The Office of Naval Research The U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR), headquartered in Arlington, Virginia (Ballston), is the office within the U.S. Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S. awarded a $9.6-million, 30-month contract to General Atomics General Atomics is a nuclear physics and defense contractor headquartered in San Diego, California. Among other things, it is the manufacturer of the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). , in San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , Calif., to design an electromagnetic launcher for the Navy's rail gun program. The company leads a team that also includes The Boeing Company, L-3 Communications Pulse Sciences, Sparta Composites and Jackson Engineering. The electromagnetic rail gun launcher is intended for naval surface fire support Fire provided by Navy surface gun and missile systems in support of a unit or units. Also called NSFS. See also fire support. for various Marine missions up to 300 miles inland. It will launch guided projectiles at speeds up to Mach 7.0, says General Atomics. The Navy views rail guns as a next step towards the elimination of propellants and explosives. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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