DAHLGREN, Va. — U.S. Navy officials briefed a top British naval officer and his delegation on current and emerging U.S. Navy technological programs during a tour here Sept. 25.
U.K. Royal Navy Second Sea Lord Vice Adm. Nicholas Hine and his delegation were briefed by Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) subject matter experts on programs and capabilities that included the NSWCDD Innovation Lab (I-Lab), digitalization of the U.S. Navy, high velocity tactical development, and directed energy weapons such as the high energy laser, electromagnetic railgun and hyper-velocity projectile.
After a live laser test demonstration, the second sea lord was presented with a steel metal sample irradiated and penetrated in the command’s High Energy Laser Lethality laboratory. In addition, NSWCDD Commanding Officer, Capt. Casey Plew, and Hine exchanged their respective command coins during the visit.
The British naval officers saw how the NSWCDD I-Lab – with its state-of-the-art equipment, services, and trained personnel – inspires intensive collaborations among technologists that speed up and maximize innovative solutions across the laboratory.
At the electromagnetic railgun facility, they observed the railgun launcher as NSWCDD engineers explained its capabilities. The electromagnetic railgun is a long-range naval weapon that fires projectiles using electricity instead of traditional gun propellants such as explosive chemicals. The hypervelocity projectile is a next-generation, guided projectile capable of completing multiple missions for gun systems such as the Navy 5-Inch, 155-mm, and future railguns.
The second sea lord is responsible for the delivery of the British naval service's current and future personnel, equipment and infrastructure.
NSWCDD is a premier research and development center that serves as a specialty site for weapon system integration.