http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/co...S-TO-TEST-SUPERGUN-IN-SCOTLAND-name_page.html
AMERICANS TO TEST SUPERGUN IN SCOTLAND
7500mph shell can kill five miles away
FURY OVER PLAN TO FIRE SHELLS AT MoD BASE
Jamie Macaskill Exclusive
AMERICA is to test a new secret supergun at a defence base in Scotland.
The electromagnetic gun (EM gun) will be tested at an experimental weapons range in Dumfriesshire.
The US Department of Defense believes the range at Dundrennan, near Kirkcudbright, is the only suitable location to test the new supergun.
But the move has sparked fury among concerned locals.
South of Scotland MSP Alasdair Morgan, an outspoken critic of the weapons range, yesterday slammed the US military's plans.
He said: "It is not as if America has a shortage of areas in its own country where they could test their latest weapons. I find it bizarre they need to do it here."
The MoD has faced complaints over its use of the range to fire thousands of shells coated with depleted uranium into the Solway Firth. There are fears the tests could be damaging the health of locals and the environment.
The EM gun is seen as a halfway measure before the US can perfect laser weapons.
Powerful magnetised coils create an electric pulse which can fire a shell at 7500mph - around two miles a second - and kill a target more than five miles away.
It's more than double the speed of shells fired by British and American tanks in the Gulf - regarded as the world's most effective - whose shells travel at around 3000mph.
The Dundrennan supergun tests emerged during a briefing in the US by America's top military scientist Mike Andrews. He told delegates at a military conference the EM gun would begin trials in Scotland.
He said: "One of the things we've been lacking is full-scale testing.
"You don't know how effective it will be until you load it up at full power.
"We'll be doing some full-scale testing in probably the only place in the world you can do that - Kirkcudbright."
The new superweapon relies on its incredible power for destruction.
Because of the tungsten shell's speed - it moves five times quicker than Concorde - it can tear through armour and buildings, even though it is only about a foot long and as narrow as a broom stick. Because of its small size, scientists believe tanks will be able to carry three times as many shells.
Three months ago, a senior scientist with the MoD revealed British defence chiefs were also interested in the EM gun.
David Hague, of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, said in a paper: "The MoD wants to see an EM weapon system that we can use on the battlefield in 20 years.
"If we don't look into the use of EM launch technology we are in danger of becoming complacent.
"It's a high-risk technology but with a high pay-off if done correctly."
Details of the supergun are top secret although it is thought the US military favours a design by American arms giant Lockheed Martin. Under the George Bush presidency, funding for new super weapons was increased and Lockheed has been given research funding until 2007.
Development started under Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative - nicknamed Star Wars - in which the US military and scientists proposed using EM guns on satellites to shoot down enemy missiles.
Although shelved by Bill Clinton, research continued and the Dundrennan tests will mark the final phase of the weapon's development.
The US military hope to have the gun ready to use within five years.
A spokesman for the US Marines added: "It doesn't look like we're going to get enough destructive power with a laser beam. Will we have that in 2030? Probably."
AMERICANS TO TEST SUPERGUN IN SCOTLAND
7500mph shell can kill five miles away
FURY OVER PLAN TO FIRE SHELLS AT MoD BASE
Jamie Macaskill Exclusive
AMERICA is to test a new secret supergun at a defence base in Scotland.
The electromagnetic gun (EM gun) will be tested at an experimental weapons range in Dumfriesshire.
The US Department of Defense believes the range at Dundrennan, near Kirkcudbright, is the only suitable location to test the new supergun.
But the move has sparked fury among concerned locals.
South of Scotland MSP Alasdair Morgan, an outspoken critic of the weapons range, yesterday slammed the US military's plans.
He said: "It is not as if America has a shortage of areas in its own country where they could test their latest weapons. I find it bizarre they need to do it here."
The MoD has faced complaints over its use of the range to fire thousands of shells coated with depleted uranium into the Solway Firth. There are fears the tests could be damaging the health of locals and the environment.
The EM gun is seen as a halfway measure before the US can perfect laser weapons.
Powerful magnetised coils create an electric pulse which can fire a shell at 7500mph - around two miles a second - and kill a target more than five miles away.
It's more than double the speed of shells fired by British and American tanks in the Gulf - regarded as the world's most effective - whose shells travel at around 3000mph.
The Dundrennan supergun tests emerged during a briefing in the US by America's top military scientist Mike Andrews. He told delegates at a military conference the EM gun would begin trials in Scotland.
He said: "One of the things we've been lacking is full-scale testing.
"You don't know how effective it will be until you load it up at full power.
"We'll be doing some full-scale testing in probably the only place in the world you can do that - Kirkcudbright."
The new superweapon relies on its incredible power for destruction.
Because of the tungsten shell's speed - it moves five times quicker than Concorde - it can tear through armour and buildings, even though it is only about a foot long and as narrow as a broom stick. Because of its small size, scientists believe tanks will be able to carry three times as many shells.
Three months ago, a senior scientist with the MoD revealed British defence chiefs were also interested in the EM gun.
David Hague, of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, said in a paper: "The MoD wants to see an EM weapon system that we can use on the battlefield in 20 years.
"If we don't look into the use of EM launch technology we are in danger of becoming complacent.
"It's a high-risk technology but with a high pay-off if done correctly."
Details of the supergun are top secret although it is thought the US military favours a design by American arms giant Lockheed Martin. Under the George Bush presidency, funding for new super weapons was increased and Lockheed has been given research funding until 2007.
Development started under Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative - nicknamed Star Wars - in which the US military and scientists proposed using EM guns on satellites to shoot down enemy missiles.
Although shelved by Bill Clinton, research continued and the Dundrennan tests will mark the final phase of the weapon's development.
The US military hope to have the gun ready to use within five years.
A spokesman for the US Marines added: "It doesn't look like we're going to get enough destructive power with a laser beam. Will we have that in 2030? Probably."
