As part of an $81 million dollar contract with K2 Energy Solutions, the U.S. Navy recently ordered an intermediate energy storage battery system for the Navy’s new electromagnetic rail gun.
According to the Office of Naval Research’s fact sheet about the powerful new weapon, the Navy’s electromagnetic rail gun uses magnetic fields, generated by electric currents, to fire projectiles between twin rails at high speeds up to 4500 mph, accelerating up to Mach 6. The energy needed for the rail gun is stored in the ship for several seconds in a pulsed power system. This energy gives way to an electrical pulse, which hits the rail gun, unleashing an electromagnetic force that launches the projectile forward.
In this way, the rail gun allows ships to avoid carrying dangerous explosives on board, erasing the need for chemical propellants while providing increased velocity and range of attack. Indeed, ONR claims that the gun has “a multi-mission capability, allowing [sailors] to conduct precise naval surface fire support or land strikes; ship defense; and surface warfare to deter enemy vessels.”
The Navy is focusing its attention on the development of directed energy weapons, like the electromagnetic rail gun, which, unlike traditional weapons (guns, bombs, etc), can hit multiple targets at once with a greater degree of precision. However, in order for the rail gun to operate properly, it needed a battery system powerful enough to generate the massive bolt of electricity launching its projectiles at such deadly high speeds.
Because of this, earlier this summer, the Navy struck a multi-million dollar deal with K2 Energy Solutions, a developer and manufacturer of lithium ion batteries and systems based in Nevada. However, the first contract – the development of an intermediate energy storage battery system for the rail gun – was not placed until this January, and is expected to be completed by January 2016.
The Department of Defense announced this news via a press release that stated: “K2 Energy Solutions, Henderson, Nevada, is being awarded a ceiling-priced $81,400,000 firm-fixed price/cost-plus fixed-fee, basic ordering agreement for the fully self-contained battery intermediate energy store system required to power a large modular capacitor bank for the electromagnetic railgun.”
K2 Energy will not only be the only battery provider for the rail gun, but will also cover engineering, design, and support for the gun. “The K2 Energy team is excited to have been recognized for achieving what no other battery company has done,” K2 Energy CEO Johnnie Stoker said in a recent K2 Energy press release. “This effort underscores the Navy’s commitment to environmentally sound, clean power as its energy demands grow. We are happy to collaborate as the Navy’s partner in this important development effort.”
“Directed Energy Weapons are a critical game-changing technology for the Navy-Marine Corps Team,” James Thomsen, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, told Forbes.
The electromagnetic rail gun is currently in Phase II of development, which started in 2012, and is focused on demonstrating a rep-rate firing capability. Navy and K2 scientists are working on developing thermal management systems for the weapon that will allow it to survive periods of sustained firing.
“This opportunity allows us to showcase technology created by K2 Energy and help us reach our goal of expanding our manufacturing capacity in Henderson, Nevada,” Stewart Graham, VP of Operations at K2 Energy, said.
