Press Releases

(Washington D.C.) - Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) today praised the men and women of Dahlgren for their record-setting railgun test conducted at the Naval Surface Warfare Center on Thursday.

"I would like to congratulate the United States Navy on their record-setting railgun test. This project has enormous potential for the future of naval warfare. The men and women who are involved in the development of this groundbreaking technology should be very proud of their achievement," said Wittman.

Electromagnetic railguns are guns that use magnetic force to drive a projectile forward. They are capable of driving a projectile at extremely high speeds. During yesterday's test at Dahlgren, the 7-pound slug fired reached speeds of Mach 7, which is over 5,000 mph. These speeds allow for the projectile to have higher range and less bullet drop. Because railguns use magnetic force rather then an explosion created force, they are also safer to store aboard naval vessels.

"It is essential that we continue to develop technologies that will give our armed forces an edge over potential adversaries, particularly technologies that prove to be safer, cheaper and more efficient. The emergence of weapons systems that can provide our military with the ability to do more with less is crucial as the nature of war continues to evolve," Wittman added.

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