An intermediate energy storage battery system for the U.S. Navy's electromagnetic rail gun is to be designed and engineered by K2 Energy Solutions Inc.

The energy storage system is a major component in the electromagnetic rail gun system, powering capacitor bank modules that are used to launch a projectile at a very high rate of speed.

"The K2 Energy team is excited to have been recognized for achieving what no other battery company has done," said K2 Energy Chief Executive Officer Johnnie Stoker. "This effort underscores the Navy's commitment to environmentally sound, clean power as its energy demands grow.

"We are happy to collaborate as the Navy's partner in this important development effort."

The electromagnetic rail gun features parallel conducting rails with a sliding armature. Electrical current flows down one rail and then back along the other, accelerating the armature and launching the projectile. In 2008, a U.S. Navy prototype rail gun launched a seven 7-pound projectile with a muzzle velocity of 8,267 feet per second.

The order for the battery system comes under an $81.4 million contract that was awarded to the company last summer by the Naval Sea Systems Command.

K2 is a developer and manufacturer of proprietary K2 Lithium Iron Phosphate battery technology.