US Navy Seeks Innovative Railcar for Ballistic Missile Transport: Get the Details!

The United States Navy has issued a request for information seeking a specialized railroad car for transporting unarmed ballistic missiles.

The current railcars, which are nearing 50 years of age, are approaching retirement. Despite this, there remains a requirement for the transportation of Active Inert Missiles, these are non-operational missiles used for practice in operations like missile tube loading.

At present, the Navy utilizes the DODX 40000 railcars, a 150-ton flatbed designed by the U.S. Army in 1981 mainly for transporting large military vehicles such as tanks. This model is expected to be decommissioned by the year 2031.

“Originally, these flatcars were acquired for the Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) program with the purpose of moving Active Inert Missiles between different facilities,” states the Navy’s request for information published on November 24. “The existing three-axle, six-wheel truck configuration is now outdated, and the American Association of Railroads (AAR) will not approve an extension for their operational lifespan.”

While the request for information did not specify the requirements for the new generation of railcars, the DODX 40000 measures 68 feet in length and has a maximum load capacity of 140 tons. It is capable of carrying two M1 Abrams tanks and can also transport cranes, shipping containers, and other bulky items.

In addition to seeking a replacement for the DODX 40000, the Navy Munitions Command Atlantic is also looking to renew its entire inventory of over 200 boxcars and flatcars used for munitions transport.

According to Military News, “The fleet is facing challenges as critical brake system components are no longer produced, necessitating the salvage of parts from decommissioned railcars to maintain operational status. Furthermore, several railcars have been phased out due to frame cracks and wear issues, diminishing the fleet size.”

Moreover, the Navy in collaboration with the Department of Energy has engineered armored railcars for the safe transport of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. This project, named the Atlas system, features a 12-axle railcar for carrying nuclear materials, accompanied by a Rail Escort Vehicle equipped with security personnel, cameras, and communication tools.

The upcoming decommissioning of the DODX 40000 adds another layer of complexity to the military’s rail system, which is a critical and cost-effective method for transporting heavy equipment across bases, training ranges, or to ports for international deployment. A 2021 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Army rail identified numerous deficiencies hindering the effectiveness of this network.

“Much of the rail infrastructure in the continental U.S. is in poor condition, marked ‘red’ for its status, and the Department of Defense has not determined the necessary number of rail operating crews required for large-scale combat operations,” Diana Moldafsky from the GAO’s Defense Capabilities and Management Team explained to Defense News. “Additionally, there is a lack of a comprehensive quality assurance and control program for the inspections.”

“Our focus wasn’t solely on flatcars, but the issue of aging flatcars was identified as a significant challenge,” Moldafsky further noted.

Although the 2021 study was centered on Army rail, similar challenges are expected for the Navy. “Given the condition of the railway tracks, designing specialized railcars for items like dummy ballistic missiles involves multiple considerations to ensure safe transport,” said Moldafsky.

David Clarke, a retired engineering professor and railroad expert, mentioned that designing a railcar for missile transport on U.S. railways should be feasible as long as the missile length does not exceed 90 feet, noting that a Trident D5 ballistic missile is 44 feet long. “Railcar designs haven’t seen significant changes since 1981,” he told Defense News.