The US military are in the process of testing a new electromagnetic gun that can fire ammo at 4,500mph.
The Navy have developed a weapon that will use a ship’s self-generated power to fire at long-range targets.
This means that the electromagnetic railgun launcher uses electricity instead of chemical propellants.
Magnetic fields created by high electrical currents accelerate a sliding metal conductor, or armature, between two rails to launch projectiles at 4,500mph.
The railgun is powered by electricity that has been generated by the ship and stored in a ‘pulse power system’.
Next, an electric pulse is sent to the railgun, creating an electromagnetic force accelerating the projectile up to Mach 6.
Using its extreme speed on impact, the kinetic energy warhead eliminates the hazards of high explosives being kept on the ship, and on land, reduces the chance of unexploded bombs which could potentially be detonated.
According to the Office of Naval Research : “The railgun is a true warfighter game changer.
“Wide-area coverage and exceptionally quick response will extend the reach and lethality of ships armed with this technology.”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/military-tests-new-game-changer-10073014?service=responsive
This technology isn’t “new”. Exactly like the foreshadowing film “Eraser” starring Arnold, the first railguns were huge and fit on train cars for testing (as I recall reading 10 years ago, or so). Now the technology has gotten them smaller…maybe not rifle-small yet (who knows? “they” may have small, hand-held railguns with low power and short range that can mess up a single person’s electrical system inducing heart attack, seizures, etc.). This could be the evolution by government to move beyond having to suicide their target and raising questions by the alt right.
6600FPS eh? twice that of some AR 223-5.56 rounds
wonder what the weight of the projectile is and inertia and impact measurements are
we can achieve similar ballistics with conventional munitions. The key to development is the projectile. Thermal build up. The “bullet must be a dense solid metal. Steel, tungsten, etc… Using a sabot system with a 30 caliber bore can reach just under 5,000 feet per second and reach the target as a viable projectile/threat. The first rail guns were produced in the late 20′ and early 30’s. they can be built any size you choose but traditionally are one shot guns. The new designs are throw away assemblies that replace the whole fire rail system and work the same as a case and shell system.