BAE Systems to develop next-gen guided projectile for US Navy

In a significant award, BAE Systems has won a $33.6 million contract from the US Navy to develop and demonstrate a Hyper Velocity Projectile (HVP), a next-generation, guided projectile capable of completing multiple missions for the Electromagnetic Railgun, as well as existing 5-inch and 155-mm gun systems deployed by the service. “The HVP takes the next evolutionary step in providing an affordable, precise, multi-mission capability for multiple gun platforms,” said Chris Hughes, vice president and general manager of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems. “We look forward to applying our expertise and technologies to this important program.” The HVP is designed to provide lethality and performance enhancements to current and future gun systems, says BAE Systems. The objective of the first phase is to produce a concept design and development roadmap towards fully guided flight demonstrations. BAE Systems, along with teammates United Technologies and Custom Analytical Engineering Systems (CAES), will develop and demonstrate a modular, low drag HVP. The modular design will allow the HVP to be configured for multiple gun systems and to address different missions. BAE Systems will build on its recent Long Range Land Attack Projectile and Multi-Service Standard Guided Projectile development and demonstration successes to apply innovative and proven designs to the next-generation projectile. Work on the HVP contract is expected to begin immediately, with its initial phase to be completed by June 2014.