Superconductor technology could be taking off—and sailing out of port—if private industry and government research efforts now underway are successful. Two current projects are aimed at developing new weapons and propulsion systems powered by high-temperature superconductors.

Military manufacturer Northrop Grumman Marine Systems is teaming with superconductive equipment maker American Superconductor to develop a 36.5-MW ship propulsion motor under a contract from the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research . The two companies are promoting the design as an alternative to conventional motors, and are predicting commercial availability by 2008.

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