This is information regarding the Navy's current DD(X) destroyer, and specifically it's Advanced Gun System.
http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_61-62_ags.htm
[font=Arial,Helvetica]The Advanced Gun System (AGS) was originally being developed as part of the DD-21 program, but is now intended for the replacement DD (X) program. This weapon was formerly known as the Vertical Gun for Advanced Ships (VGAS), but as of September 1999 the Navy decided to abandon the truly vertical mounting and instead utilize a conventional turret configuration. The mockup shown below represents that concept. As an unusual feature, the barrel will be triangular in shape and water-cooled. An AGS firing Long Range Land Attack Projectiles (LRLAP) at 12 rounds per minute is considered to be equivalent to one 155 mm artillery battery (6 guns) firing at 2 rounds per gun per minute. However, BAE has recently derated the ROF of the AGS to 10 rounds per minute.[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]As a vertical gun system, this weapon could have used only guided munitions. With the more traditional design, both conventional as well as guided munitions may now be used. The concept of this weapon is thus similar to that of the 5"/62 (12.7 cm) Mark 45 Mod 4 program.[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]The design of this weapon will include a fully automated ammunition magazine to reduce the crew size and to maximize the ammunition capacity. Ammunition for this weapon will use a separate propellant canister, which will be used for both conventional and guided munitions. Proposed projectiles include guided land and surface attack munitions as well as ballistic projectiles. Planned CEP accuracy for guided weapons is 20 to 50 m (22 to 55 yards).[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]In October 2001 the first prototype was successfully proof-tested, firing eleven test projectiles at pressures ranging from 50% below normal to 50% above normal. In April 2003 Lockheed-Martin was selected over Raytheon to continue development of the Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP). This phase includes the manufacturing of 15 rounds to conduct flight tests and support the AGS Critical Design Review (CDW).[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]A September 2004 GAO report stated: "While development of the advanced gun system is proceeding as planned and has even overcome early challenges in design and development, the current plans do not include fully demonstrating the maturity of the subsystem. Land based testing of the gun system, including the automated mount and magazine, is planned for the summer of 2005 and flight tests for the munition are set to complete in September of 2005. However, the two technologies will not be tested together until after ship installation. Program officials cited lack of adequate test facilities as the reason for the separate tests."[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]In June 2005, a Northrop Grumman press release stated that "The LRLAP Guided Flight-four (GF-04) gun test marked the longest successful guided-projectile test in history. The LRLAP, fired at the San Nicolas Island test facility at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, Pt. Mugu, Calif., (NAWC-WD), flew a guided trajectory to an impact location more than 59 nautical miles down range."[/font] [font=Arial,Helvetica]In July 2005, BAE Systems awarded Lockheed Martin a $120 million contract for for further development and testing of LRLAP. This cost-plus-award-fee contract covers additional development and tests during 2006-2008 and support to AGS qualification testing during 2009-2010. More than 100 projectiles will be delivered and tested under this contract. Full-rate production is expected to begin in 2011.[/font]
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Honestly, this is quite amazing. A 5 inch gun firing 59 miles. And the AGS will have a final operational range of 100 miles, almost twice it's test firing. It's also rated to hit Surface targets at 22 miles. I've been saying that guns would be capable of doing this for quite some time now using guidance systems.
http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_61-62_ags.htm
[font=Arial,Helvetica]The Advanced Gun System (AGS) was originally being developed as part of the DD-21 program, but is now intended for the replacement DD (X) program. This weapon was formerly known as the Vertical Gun for Advanced Ships (VGAS), but as of September 1999 the Navy decided to abandon the truly vertical mounting and instead utilize a conventional turret configuration. The mockup shown below represents that concept. As an unusual feature, the barrel will be triangular in shape and water-cooled. An AGS firing Long Range Land Attack Projectiles (LRLAP) at 12 rounds per minute is considered to be equivalent to one 155 mm artillery battery (6 guns) firing at 2 rounds per gun per minute. However, BAE has recently derated the ROF of the AGS to 10 rounds per minute.[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]As a vertical gun system, this weapon could have used only guided munitions. With the more traditional design, both conventional as well as guided munitions may now be used. The concept of this weapon is thus similar to that of the 5"/62 (12.7 cm) Mark 45 Mod 4 program.[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]The design of this weapon will include a fully automated ammunition magazine to reduce the crew size and to maximize the ammunition capacity. Ammunition for this weapon will use a separate propellant canister, which will be used for both conventional and guided munitions. Proposed projectiles include guided land and surface attack munitions as well as ballistic projectiles. Planned CEP accuracy for guided weapons is 20 to 50 m (22 to 55 yards).[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]In October 2001 the first prototype was successfully proof-tested, firing eleven test projectiles at pressures ranging from 50% below normal to 50% above normal. In April 2003 Lockheed-Martin was selected over Raytheon to continue development of the Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP). This phase includes the manufacturing of 15 rounds to conduct flight tests and support the AGS Critical Design Review (CDW).[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]A September 2004 GAO report stated: "While development of the advanced gun system is proceeding as planned and has even overcome early challenges in design and development, the current plans do not include fully demonstrating the maturity of the subsystem. Land based testing of the gun system, including the automated mount and magazine, is planned for the summer of 2005 and flight tests for the munition are set to complete in September of 2005. However, the two technologies will not be tested together until after ship installation. Program officials cited lack of adequate test facilities as the reason for the separate tests."[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]In June 2005, a Northrop Grumman press release stated that "The LRLAP Guided Flight-four (GF-04) gun test marked the longest successful guided-projectile test in history. The LRLAP, fired at the San Nicolas Island test facility at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, Pt. Mugu, Calif., (NAWC-WD), flew a guided trajectory to an impact location more than 59 nautical miles down range."[/font] [font=Arial,Helvetica]In July 2005, BAE Systems awarded Lockheed Martin a $120 million contract for for further development and testing of LRLAP. This cost-plus-award-fee contract covers additional development and tests during 2006-2008 and support to AGS qualification testing during 2009-2010. More than 100 projectiles will be delivered and tested under this contract. Full-rate production is expected to begin in 2011.[/font]
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Honestly, this is quite amazing. A 5 inch gun firing 59 miles. And the AGS will have a final operational range of 100 miles, almost twice it's test firing. It's also rated to hit Surface targets at 22 miles. I've been saying that guns would be capable of doing this for quite some time now using guidance systems.