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Tech Valley News
Folsom Develops Test Gun for U.S. Navy
The Science Applications International Corporation believes that a long-standing military record for distance fired has been broken with the development of the Naval Surface Weapons Center's Advanced Modular Gun Demonstrator (AMGD), a high-performance, modular, large-caliber, powder test gun.
Folsom Technologies International developed the test gun for the Navy to help the military manufacture the next generation of high-velocity projectiles, propellants and materials and coatings for high-caliber guns and cannons.
AMGD’s innovative design features a cannon's assembly comprised of pieces that can be changed or replaced as necessary.
"The AMGD provides the defense community with a test platform for advanced gun technology to help meet future needs identified by the military," said Tom Baybrook, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager.
During testing at NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility in Virginia, the 45-foot AMGD fired shots as far as 86 statute miles (or 75 nautical miles), at altitudes of 155,000 feet and pressures of more than 100,000 psi while mounted on its custom-built launch pad. These results indicate a new record may have been set for distance of a gun-launched projectile.
The cannon assembly, which is almost 46-feet long, incorporates multiple separable large volume chambers and a segmented barrel.
The gun was designed by the Applied Ordnance Technology Division of SAIC and the Advanced Power Technology Division of Folsom Technologies International. It is serving in several critical areas, including large caliber hypervelocity research and next generation projectiles and propellants.
"It's an enabling technology. The gun's modular design enables it to serve as a test bed for a multitude of sub-systems and technologies like new chambers, new projectile designs, or new metal compositions. Through mitigating the need to develop new guns for testing purposes, the AMGD offers an alternative that streamlines schedules and reduces costs,” said Chuck Muizers, vice president and manager of SAIC’s AOT Division. “Increasing the range of Naval Surface Fire Support requires gun systems firing projectiles at higher velocities, translating to higher heat and pressure levels. Projectiles will need to fly higher and further. Success will require new approaches and new technologies for gun systems and projectiles. We believe that the AMGD will play a key role as an enabling technology in these areas.”
The AMGD provides the U.S. Department of Defense community with a test gun for advanced technology in the areas of hypersonic and long range projectiles, advanced propellants, barrel materials, gun and projectile instrumentation. The gun can launch projectiles at speeds up to 4,500 miles per hour (Mach 6).
Folsom Technologies International developed the AMGD as the result of a five-year, $11 million contract with the U.S. Navy.
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