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Technology Approach Could Extend Gun Barrel Service Life

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091005-05
Release Date: 10/5/2009 4:40:00 AM

From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare Systems' (PEO IWS) Naval Gunnery Project Office (NGPO) is reviewing results from the Advanced Gun Barrel Technology (AGBT) Rapid Fire Test conducted in September 2009 at Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah.

The test firing was the final demonstration of a new refractory metal coating for large caliber naval gun barrels.

During the demonstration, 48 high-propellant rounds were expelled in rapid fire mode from the Navy's 155-mm Advanced Gun System (AGS) Engineering Development Model gun mount for eventual installation on the U.S. Navy's new Zumwalt-class destroyer (DDG 1000).

PEO IWS' NGPO is examining results from the firing to determine if the technology performed as anticipated, and also if the technology might be leveraged for use by other naval guns

"Gun barrel wear and erosion are factors that can limit the performance of large caliber gun weapon systems," said Shawn Barreto, NGPO AGS assistant project manager. "The anticipated objective for this new coating is to provide a fifty percent increase in the service life of the barrel while reducing the overall life cycle cost."

The AGBT demonstration at Dugway was the culmination of a five-year Future Naval Capability program funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) with collaboration from the Naval Surface Warfare Centers and the defense industry. During the five-year period, BAE Systems worked cooperatively with Paradigm Shift Technologies of Toronto, Ontario, developing coating materials and processes for gun application.

"An increased service life would reduce the life cycle support cost for the program, while ensuring that gun weapon systems remain capable of delivering naval surface fire support. The refractory coating could also serve as a technology enabler in the development of new high performance munitions," said Barreto.

AGS is a fully integrated gun weapon system that will include at least two separate gun systems for each DDG 1000 warship. Each gun system will be capable of independently firing up to 10 rounds per minute from an automated magazine storing as many as 600 rounds. The 155-mm rounds are about 6.1 inches in diameter, versus the 127 mm diameter of the standard 5-inch projectile.

PEO IWS is an affiliated PEO of the Naval Sea Systems Command which manages surface ship and submarine combat technologies and systems and coordinates Navy open architecture across ship platforms.