Over forty Exlar actuators needed to reload and fire Navy’s newest gun

The Navy’s newest destroyer, the DDG 1000 or Zumwalt-class warship, will carry two Advanced Gun Systems (AGS). The 155-mm weapon, a joint development of BAE Systems and General Dynamics, uses the world’s largest fully-automated ammunition magazine for reloading. To make both the gun and magazine work together, engineers installed more than 40 linear actuators into each weapon system. These were GSX20 and GSX30 series actuators from Exlar Corp., Chanhassen, Minn., which include a brushless servo motor, an inverted roller screw, and an encoder/resolver feedback source, all matched for optimal performance.

Exlar will provide actuators for at least the first four AGS, which will be installed on the first two Zumwalt-class destroyers.

Exlar Corp (www.exlar.com)

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