New World Record with Electromagnetic Railgun

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER DAHLGREN, Va (NNS) -- The Office of Naval Research (ONR) achieved a milestone Dec. 10 when it successfully conducted a world-record 33-megajoule shot of the Electromagnetic Railgun aboard Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division.

"Today's railgun test demonstrates the tactical relevance of this technology, which could one day complement traditional surface ship combat systems," said Rear Adm. Nevin Carr, chief of naval research.

"The 33-megajoule shot means the Navy can fire projectiles at least 110 nautical miles, placing Sailors and Marines at a safe standoff distance and out of harm's way, and the high velocities achievable are tactically relevant for air and missile defense," he said. "This demonstration moves us one day closer to getting this advanced capability to sea."

Besides the extended ranges, the railgun also improves safety for Sailors and Marines because it will eliminate the need for a high-energy explosive warhead and traditional gun propellants. Removing explosives and chemicals will reduce the munitions logistic chain.

A megajoule is a measurement of energy associated with a mass traveling at a certain velocity. In simple terms, a one-ton vehicle moving at 100 mph equals a megajoule of energy.

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Eudaimonium said:

So basically you're telling me - they have a railgun weapon which can fire a projectile so hard that it'll travel 110 nautical miles and at that distance, aproximately, still tear a god-damned tank in half like it was made of paper.

Great. If they directed all that ingenuity into lasers, instead of killing eachother, we'd all be having yellow direct diodes by now.

If there is one thing people are good at, it's killing other people.

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...Electromagnetic Railgun

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Cyparagon said:

Is there any other kind?

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532 with Envy said:

I can't find the post right now, but someone here had a link to Rail-Gun DIYers. Pretty impressive stuff to be making in your garage.

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