One of the Navy’s most interesting prototypes is the Electromagnetic Personnel Interdiction Control. This weirdly-named weapon, uses electromagnetic pulses to make their personnel targets ill and throw up. A prototype was created to test the idea of being able to neutralize an enemy without causing severe harm, as is always the case with bullets and explosions.
Despite being a promising idea, the EPIC’s development has recently been halted. It’s highly unlikely that the Navy will continue the development of this gun, although we would be lying to say if we said that a future with this war doesn’t sound really cool
The SLAM-ER Missile
The SLAM-ER missile is a highly capable and accurate ballistic weapon that can easily eliminate both short to medium-range targets on both land and sea. They have an effective reach of 170 miles and cost about $500,000 each. This makes them a lot more economical than other, larger missiles, while still being quite deadly.
The AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER missiles are some of the most advanced missiles in the world, and feature advanced remote control technology that allows them to hit moving targets without risking U.S. fighters. The Navy recently contracted Boeing to manufacture more of these, and the deal was reportedly closed at around $12.3 million.
The Harpoon Missile
Harpoon missiles have been in development since the mid-'60s. They once had a range of 28 miles, but have recently been upgraded to five times that. These missiles are fast, precise, and very expensive. Each Harpoon missile cost the U.S. military just over a million dollars back in 2011, although the price has likely gone up significantly since.
Harpoon missiles are efficient at obliterating ships, and can be used in any weather. Their radar homing system helps them fly just above water levels, which prevents them from being detected or destroyed. Harpoons have been used in the Iraq war to great effect. They are a very expensive tool, but are more than worth their price.
The M61 Vulcan
M61 Vulcans are one of the Navy’s deadliest close-contact weapons. These are often a U.S. helicopter’s first line of defense when being shot, and have proved themselves to be very effective in a large range of situations. More than 3,700 U.S. aircraft contain these, and we’ll explain why right away.
Vulcan turrets fire electrically primed 20mm rounds at rates of up to 6,000 rounds per minute. Their ability to cause both precise and general destruction has earned them the name “The Hand of Gun”. These are some of the Navy’s most effective offensive weapons and definitely live up to the name.
The Aegis Combat System (AWS)
The Aegis Combat System is an American naval weapon system fitted on most of the Navy’s ships. It’s produced and distributed by Lockheed Martin. This system uses advanced digital radar systems to track down and hit long-range threats. The U.S. Military has authorized the use of this technology to various other allied countries.
The name "Aegis" comes from Greek mythology and represents a protective shield, similar to the one used by Zeus. The Aegis Combat System locates aerial hostile units and helps track and destroy them before they cause harm. It was originally developed in the ‘60s, but with recent technological advances, it has become far more effective.