The United States-based arm of Britain’s BAE Systems on Tuesday said it has acquired Ohio-based IAP Research, locking in expertise in on the company’s effort for research and development for the Navy for the Electromagnetic Railgun.

A prototype railgun. Photo by Office of Naval Research.
A prototype railgun. Photo by Office of Naval Research.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. IAP has about 40 employees.

“This acquisition enhances both IAP Research and BAE Systems’ capabilities for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development of the Electromagnetic Railgun,” Erwin Bieber, president of the Platform & Services segment of BAE Systems, Inc., said in a statement. “We look forward to leveraging our combined workforces and long-standing strategic partnership to successfully develop and produce advanced weapon systems, such as the EMRG, and pursue other business opportunities that incorporate our innovative technologies and capabilities.”

Prior to the acquisition, IAP had been a subcontract to BAE for more than 10 years on the EMRG development. 

BAE said the acquisition aligns with its focus on investing in strategic growth markets, such as advanced weapons.

IAP in 2007 designed and built a rail gun for the Navy that shattered the world record for speed and muzzle entry, the company says in its website. The company has also developed a high power transformer for ships that is half the size of existing transformers.