Railguns have been discussed for decades now in various military and defense circles. But why don’t they ever get built and deployed?While the concept of “directed-energy weapons” originated on the pages of pulp novels in the late nineteenth century, another weapon technology that seems straight out of science fiction was first theorized by a French inventor during World War I.
The concept of therailgun, a technology that could utilize a large circuit to launch a projectile far further than one launched via the use of a chemical reaction, was developed by Andre Louis Octave Fauchon-Villeplee. He created asimple electric cannon, which caught the attention of the French military—who were seeking a weapon that could rival such long-range cannons as Germany’s so-called “Paris Gun.”
Under the direction of the Director of Inventions at the French Ministry of Armaments in 1918, Fauchon-Villeplee was charged with developing a thirty to fifty millimeter electricannon based on his simple design. While it might seem revolutionary today for the French military to be so forward-thinking, it should be remembered that at the start of the war its uniforms and tactics were little changed from that of a generation earlier.
But France also saw the need to modernize and underwent a number of wartime reforms. This included the use of the first infantry combat helmet, but France soon follow its British ally’s lead todevelop tanks. Likewise, Germany developedzeppelins to bomb Englandand later developed some of the earliest heavy bombers. Therefore it is almost surprising that one of the countries didn’t somehow develop a successful railgun, but the simple fact is that the war ended before Fauchon-Villeplee’s experiments were able to progress very far.
Moreover, he was simply ahead of his time.
During World War II, Joachim Hänsler of Nazi Germany’s Ordnance Office also developed a concept for a railgun that that was supposed to launch projectiles at a speed of two thousand meters per second. When plans for the weapon were discovered after the war, U.S. researchers found that the downside of this concept was that it required enough power to illuminate half of Chicago at the time.
Railgun Basics
Because of the appearance of railguns in variouscomputer/video gamessuch asQuake IIandMetal Gear Solid, there is a misconception that it is a type of heavy “laser cannon.” Most of the video games also suggest that a railgun could be a sort of small arm like a large rifle or machine gun—or even a cyber attachment like a robotic arm! Video game designers clearly didn’t get the memo about the amount of energy required to power such a weapon.
Only the shooter gameBattlefield: 2142envisioned a stationary, anti-vehicle emplacement as being a railgun, but even that probably misses the mark in terms of the scale for such a heavy armament.
In truth, a railgun is basically alarge electric circuitthat consists of three parts including a power source (a big power source), a pair of parallel rails and a moving armature. This is actually a fairly simple concept—but the trick is getting enough power. The current used in medium to large-caliber railguns would need to be in the millions of amps.
Likewise the rails, which need to be of a conductive metal such as copper, would need to be four to thirty feet long or longer. Already it is easy to see why it would be terribly difficult to have a railgun the size of a rifle or machine gun. Then there is the operation.
An armature bridgesthe gap between the rails, and this is a solid piece of conductive metal or a conductive “sabot.” The current runs from the positive terminal of the power supply, up the positive rail, over the sabot/armature and down the negative rail back to the power supply.
Simply put, this creates an electromagnetic force that can launch high velocity projectiles.
Railgun Pros
There are several significant advantages over traditional explosive projectile weapons. The first is that much higher velocities can be reached—potentially Mach 10 at sea level, or more than three times the muzzle speed of an M16 rifle. The range could be upwards of ten times that of traditional explosive projectile weapons. Because of the high speed, mass and kinetic energy the projectile doesn’t need to contain explosives to inflict damage.
In fact, the kinetic energy could be so great that a non-explosive projectile could do as much damage to a warship as a Tomahawk missile. Moreover, the high speeds could be far more accurate as these are less affected by factors such as wind.
Railgun Cons
Given the fact that the weapons are so accurate and deadly but not widely adopted must mean there are issues—and there are actually plenty. The first is the aforementioned power supply. Even today the amount of energy to power the weapons is simply not feasible, which is why railguns would likely be confined to a warship or other platform that could in fact supply that demand for power.
Then there is theissue of resistive heat, which can damage the surface of the rails. Heat has been a problem with machine guns since their invention and an early solution was to water cool the barrel, while later the best option was to swap out the barrel and maintain fire discipline. Cooling options are being explored, but a weapon that can’t be repeatedly fired without damaging the system isn’t something any military is likely to adopt.
The final problem is that because the currents can also create serious wear and tear—meaning many prototypes will break after just a few uses.
The problems aren’t so great that railgun research has been abandoned. Far from it in fact, and the Chinese are getting closer tofieldinga true railgun, while the United States Navy has continued to see the potential for such a weapon on its stealth warships—even if the expected rate of fire would be just ten rounds per minute.
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PACIFIC OCEAN (May 21, 2020) The amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) successfully tests a Solid State Laser – Technology Maturation Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD) Mark 2 MOD 0.The SSL-TM program builds upon the Office of Naval Research’s previous directed-energy developments, like the Laser Weapon System (LaWS), which was successfully tested at-sea aboard the Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce (ASB(I)) 15 in 2014. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
211214-M-HB658-1322 GULF OF ADEN (Dec. 14, 2021) Amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) conducts a high-energy laser weapon system demonstration on a static surface training target, Dec. 14, while sailing in the Gulf of Aden. During the demonstration, the Solid State Laser – Technology Maturation Laser Weapons System Demonstrator Mark 2 MOD 0 aboard Portland successfully engaged the training target. The photograph was captured utilizing a short wave infrared lens and optical filter. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Donald Holbert)
211214-N-VQ947-1142 GULF OF ADEN (Dec. 14, 2021) — Amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) conducts a high-energy laser weapon system demonstration on a static surface training target, Dec. 14, while sailing in the Gulf of Aden. During the demonstration, the Solid State Laser – Technology Maturation Laser Weapons System Demonstrator Mark 2 MOD 0 aboard Portland successfully engaged the training target. The photograph was captured utilizing a short wave infrared lens and optical filter. (U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Devin Kates)
While that is slower than many cannons on the warships the railgun could be more accurate and far more devastating, which is why the research into once might have been an ideal that seemed almost fantastical continues today.
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DAHLGREN, Va. (Dec. 10, 2010) High-speed camera image of the Office of Naval Research Electromagnetic Railgun located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, firing a world-record setting 33 mega-joule shot, breaking the previous record established Jan. 31, 2008. The railgun is a long-range, high-energy gun launch system that uses electricity rather than gunpowder or rocket motors to launch projectiles capable of striking a target at a range of more than 200 nautical miles with Mach 7 velocity. A future tactical railgun will hit targets at ranges almost 20 times farther than conventional surface ship combat systems. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
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Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He is the author of several books on military headgear includingA Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.
FAQs
Why doesn't the military use railguns? ›
Because the major issues with rail guns are currently unsolvable. Power requirements. Unless it is in a static location or onboard a ship, where there is the space to put in the electrical generation and storage capacity, it is impractical.
Does the U.S. military use the railgun? ›Despite the concept being around more than a century, no militaries have successfully fielded a railgun.
Is it illegal to build a railgun? ›No. In fact, it's not even that hard to make a railgun, and it's a fairly common home physics "experiment". Making a weaponized home railgun would likely be rather more difficult. However, if you do so it's likely that you will be getting job offers, not criminal charges.
Has the U.S. given up on railguns? ›After more than 15 years of R&D, and half a billion dollars of funding, the United States Navy has decided to give up on the prospect of mounting enormous railguns on its ships.
Why did the U.S. railgun fail? ›Starved of funding and purpose, the Mach 6 gun isn't going to sea any time soon. The U.S. Navy has spent $500 million developing a working railgun. Now that the weapon works, there are no plans to make it an operational weapon system.
Is the railgun a failure? ›The U.S. Navy is finally canceling its electromagnetic railgun development program. The railgun appears to be the victim of the service's new emphasis on great power competition. Although impressive, the railgun has been overshadowed by other weapons, particularly hypersonics.
Did the US Navy cancel the railgun? ›“Given fiscal constraints, combat system integration challenges and the prospective technology maturation of other weapon concepts, the Navy decided to pause research and development of the Electromagnetic Railgun [EMRG] at the end of 2021,” the statement from the Navy said.
Why doesn t the Navy use railguns? ›But the single big obstacle that keeps the railgun off boats remains the same as it ever was: ships can't generate enough power to fire them. At the Naval Future Force Science and Technology Expo, Vice Adm.
Can a railgun destroy a tank? ›The Railgun is the one of the most expensive and powerful weapons in Awesome Tanks 2. Capable of killing all normal enemy tanks and most of the lower level turrets in one shot, it is a full-piercing projectile weapon.
How much is a real railgun? ›A startup called Arcflash Labs is selling a $3,750 handheld railgun — and it's officially available for preorder now.
How fast is a rail gun in mph? ›
Railguns use magnetic fields created by high electrical currents to accelerate a projectile to Mach 6, or 5,400 miles an hour.
How much is a railgun worth? ›The price of 1 Railgun currently costs $0.67.
Does Russia have railguns? ›In contrast, Russia's railgun projectile is a thousand times smaller, and reached speeds of 7,200 mph (11,000 km/h).
How far can the US railgun shoot? ›A rail gun is a kinetic energy weapon that can fire a projectile at seven times the speed of sound with electromagnetic force and hit a target over 200km (125 miles) away – more than 10 times the typical range of a cannon.
Does China have railguns? ›China is stepping up its railgun technology research, potentially looking at naval, land and small arms applications. Compared to conventional powder guns, railguns use electromagnetic energy to propel projectiles at up to seven times the speed of sound, and up to ten times the range of traditional guns.
Could a railgun shoot down a hypersonic missile? ›Railgun-equipped warships can fire hypersonic projectiles to shoot down stealth aircraft and ballistic missiles, or bombard enemy ships and land targets from hundreds of miles away. They can be employed for Anti-surface (naval), Anti air and anti missile defense (including against hypersonic threats).
Can anything stop a railgun? ›Given the size and energy of the railgun round, any laser system capable of destroying an incoming railgun (or even an APDS-FS) round in flight would be a main weapon in its own right. Incoming rounds fired from ships at sea can be treated in a similar manner to incoming ballistic missiles.
What is the largest railgun in history? ›Railguns have several disadvantages, however. Due to the large electrical currents required, railguns produce huge quantities of heat. This heat increases friction and has the capacity to destroy vital components.
What is the problem with railguns? ›Because the currents in a rail gun are so large, the repulsion between the two rails is significant. Wear and tear on rail guns is a serious problem.
How lethal is a railgun? ›
“This is a serious weapon,” McCollum says. “Yes, in terms of energy numbers, the muzzle energy is wimpy compared to a firearm, but this is absolutely potentially lethal, so it does need to be treated with the respect that one accords a proper firearm,” he says.
Will the US Navy ever use battleships again? ›Ardent battleship supporters have won another round; the Navy has reinstated two battleships—the Iowa (BB-61) and the Wisconsin (BB-64)—on the Naval Vessel Register (NVR), the official listing of ships owned by the Navy.
What is the US Navy's newest secret weapons? ›A second, stronger laser entered trials in 2019; then in August 2022, the Navy installed its first permanent laser on a destroyer, the Arleigh Burke–class Preble. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the weapon has a 60-kilowatt power output that integrates with the ship's advanced AEGIS radar and weapons control system.
What is the US Navy's new weapon? ›HELIOS is a transformational new weapon system providing an additional layer of protection for the fleet with its deep magazine, low-cost per kill, speed of light delivery and precision response.
Could a rail gun launch a space ship? ›Laboratory experiments with railguns have demonstrated muzzle velocities of 2-3 km/s and muzzle energies >8 MJ. The extension of this technology to the muzzle velocities (≥7500 m/s) and energies (≥10 GJ) needed for the direct launch of payloads into orbit is very challenging, but may not be impossible.
Does the US have hypersonic missiles? ›There are two main hypersonic weapons system concepts — the glide vehicle and air-breathing missile — that the US is developing. While the weapons systems themselves are conventional, or non-nuclear, China is developing nuclear-capable missiles, as the 2021 tests showed.
Why did the Navy give up on the railgun? ›The technology, if it were harnessed, would be far cheaper than using bombs and missiles. But the Navy couldn't get the railgun to fire beyond 110 miles in testing, which would mean a Navy ship couldn't use the weapon without getting itself in range of enemy missiles.
What weapon killed the most in ww2? ›The machine gun was one of the deadliest weapons of the Western Front, causing thousands of casualties. It was a relatively new weapon at the start of the war, but British and German forces soon realised its potential as a killing machine, especially when fired from a fixed defensive position.
How deep can a railgun penetrate? ›The 6-inch guns that the Navy currently uses have a range of 15 miles; the 16-inch guns of World War II had a range of 24 miles, and could penetrate 30 feet of concrete. The 38-foot railgun, though, has a range of 125 miles, five times the impact, and can shoot through seven steel plates.
How hard does a railgun hit? ›Railguns are being researched as weapons with projectiles that do not contain explosives or propellants, but are given extremely high velocities: 2,500 m/s (8,200 ft/s) (approximately Mach 7 at sea level) or more.
How much electricity does a railgun use? ›
Most Railguns thus use a strong current to the degree of a million amps for generating the required force.
What is the most powerful railgun you can buy? ›The Arcflash Labs GR-1 “Anvil” is an 8-stage semi-automatic high voltage Gauss Rifle. It is the most powerful coilgun ever sold to the public, and also (very likely) the most powerful handheld coilgun ever built.
What kind of bullet does a railgun use? ›Rail gun ammunition, in the form of small tungsten missiles, would be relatively light, easy to transport and easy to handle. And because of their high velocities, rail gun missiles would be less susceptible to bullet drop and wind shift than current artillery shells.
What is the fastest bullet out of a gun? ›The . 220 Swift remains the fastest commercial cartridge in the world, with a published velocity of 1,422 m/s (4,665 ft/s) using a 1.9 grams (29 gr) bullet and 2.7 grams (42 gr) of 3031 powder.
What is the highest speed gun bullet? ›The fastest bullets travel more than 2,600 feet per second. That's equivalent to over 1,800 miles per hour.
Do railguns have recoil? ›Recoil forces in EM railguns appear wherever the breech of the railgun i s closed electromagnetically. This means recoil forces may appear on power supply leads, switches, or power supply components them- selves.
Where can I get a railgun? ›The Railgun can be bought from the secret vehicle Gun Van vendor in GTA Online. Since this gun is extremely powerful, it was fitting to have it sold by a mysterious vendor who is hard to track. The Gun Van also offers significant discounts for other weapons if players need something other than the Rail Gun.
Why was the railgun Cancelled? ›Cutting funding to railguns implies that the Navy experienced flaws in the novel weapon, not just in implementing it on battlefields, but also due to its relatively short range, compared to hypersonic missiles.
What is the Russian doomsday weapon? ›A lot of great technology was developed during the Cold War. Things like GPS, the internet and microchips were all developed as part of the arms-race tech boom. Unfortunately, so was the Novichok nerve agent, the world's largest nuclear weapon and Russia's doomsday device, just to name a few.
What is Russia's new apocalypse weapon? ›Russia is planning to launch a new division of the Pacific submarine fleet equipped with lethal Poseidon nuclear-capable torpedoes, reported by TASS, a Russian state-backed media outlet. This fleet is expected to become operational by the end of 2024 or the first half of 2025.
What weapon does Russia have in the apocalypse? ›
Poseidon is meant to attack cities and ports with a multi-megaton thermonuclear bomb. The Russian Navy has taken delivery of its first Poseidon long-range nuclear torpedoes. The torpedoes, powered by a nuclear reactor, can outrun NATO submarines and torpedoes.
Are railguns loud? ›At 100 yards, railguns sound no louder than a . 30-06 rifle firing. What little "smoke" they create is actually plasma particulates or dust.
How many walls can a railgun shoot through? ›The Rail Gun can penetrate up to two walls, destroying everything in its path. While the Rail Gun is charging, a bright red beam will be emitted from the barrel, alerting enemies to the incoming shot.
Does Japan have a railgun? ›The Japanese government set aside 6.5 billion yen ($56 million) last year for a railgun-based counter-hypersonic weapon system. The Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency intends to deploy the system by the end of the decade.
Does the US Navy have railguns? ›To illustrate, the U.S. Navy's prototype railgun could launch its projectiles at Mach 6 - six times faster than the speed of sound. That's roughly 4,603.6 miles per hour (7,408.8 kph), faster than just about any other weapon on the planet.
What is the main gun of China? ›QBZ-95 (rifle)
This is the Chinese standard-issue version of the rifle, chambered for the 5.8×42mm DBP87 round. Due to issues associated with the original design, the PLA began a program to improve the Type 95.
The technology, if it were harnessed, would be far cheaper than using bombs and missiles. But the Navy couldn't get the railgun to fire beyond 110 miles in testing, which would mean a Navy ship couldn't use the weapon without getting itself in range of enemy missiles.
Why did the Navy scrap the railgun? ›The Navy has announced that it is pulling funds from the much-hyped electromagnetic railgun in order to shift those monetary resources to hypersonic missiles and other high-tech weapons.
Why are battleships discontinued? ›World War II gave the world's navies a crash course in the next phase of war at sea. The pointy end of the spear became aircraft, guided weapons (missiles and torpedoes) and submarines—not the guns on board a ship—thus largely ending of the utility of the battleship in the open ocean.
How much does the Navy rail gun cost? ›The U.S. Navy's push to create a $500 million electromagnetic railgun weapon—capable of slinging projectiles at hypersonic speeds—appears to have come to an end.
How powerful is the US Navy railgun? ›
To illustrate, the U.S. Navy's prototype railgun could launch its projectiles at Mach 6 - six times faster than the speed of sound. That's roughly 4,603.6 miles per hour (7,408.8 kph), faster than just about any other weapon on the planet.
What are 3 problems with rail guns? ›Launcher research is currently focused on the three mechanisms known to cause damage when accelerating high-speed launches of projectiles inside a gun bore: 1) excessive heating of the rail/armature interface; 2) hypervelocity gouging of rails by the passage of the armature; and 3) erosion of rails near the muzzle at ...
How far away can a railgun shoot? ›A rail gun is a kinetic energy weapon that can fire a projectile at seven times the speed of sound with electromagnetic force and hit a target over 200km (125 miles) away – more than 10 times the typical range of a cannon.