US Navy Discloses Railgun Prototype
- 10 years ago
Officials from the United States Navy have announced the development of prototypes for two weapon systems called railguns. The electromagnetic railguns can shoot projectiles at seven times the speed of sound, reaching up to 56 hundred miles per hour.
Officials from the United States Navy have announced the development of prototypes for two weapon systems called railguns.
The electromagnetic railguns can shoot projectiles at seven times the speed of sound, reaching up to 56 hundred miles per hour.
That’s six times faster than a bullet from a regular handgun, and the railgun can hit a target within a range of 110 miles.
Bullets used by the railgun cost about 25 thousand dollars, which is around a hundred times cheaper than most missiles.
And since the gun uses the force of electricity from the ship to fire the bullets instead of gun powder, it is safer for Navy sailors to use.
Matthew Klunder, Chief of Naval Research is quoted as saying: “It can shoot down ballistic missiles, it can shoot down very advanced cruise missiles, and it can shoot down fast moving aircraft.”
The Joint High Speed Vessel will be mounted with the first railgun for testing in 2016, and officials say that the weapon could be fully operational by the year 2018.
Although the new weapon will enhance the arsenal of future vessels, they won’t replace the missiles that can reach distances two times further than the railgun.
Officials from the United States Navy have announced the development of prototypes for two weapon systems called railguns.
The electromagnetic railguns can shoot projectiles at seven times the speed of sound, reaching up to 56 hundred miles per hour.
That’s six times faster than a bullet from a regular handgun, and the railgun can hit a target within a range of 110 miles.
Bullets used by the railgun cost about 25 thousand dollars, which is around a hundred times cheaper than most missiles.
And since the gun uses the force of electricity from the ship to fire the bullets instead of gun powder, it is safer for Navy sailors to use.
Matthew Klunder, Chief of Naval Research is quoted as saying: “It can shoot down ballistic missiles, it can shoot down very advanced cruise missiles, and it can shoot down fast moving aircraft.”
The Joint High Speed Vessel will be mounted with the first railgun for testing in 2016, and officials say that the weapon could be fully operational by the year 2018.
Although the new weapon will enhance the arsenal of future vessels, they won’t replace the missiles that can reach distances two times further than the railgun.