A railgun or rail gun, sometimes referred to as a rail cannon, is a linear motor device, typically designed as a weapon, that uses electromagnetic force to launch high-velocity projectiles. The projectile normally does not contain explosives, instead relying on the projectile's high kinetic energy to inflict damage. [2]

The rails are lengths of conductive metal, such as copper. They can range from four to 30 feet (9 meters) long. The armature bridges the gap between the rails. It can be a solid piece of conductive metal or a conductive sabot-- a carrier that houses a dart or other projectile.Some rail guns use a plasma armature. In this set-up a thin metal foil is placed on the back of a non …

Nov 3, 2022 · Militaries around the world have been attempting to develop a functional, battlefield-ready railgun for over a century. Will it ever be pulled off?

Apr 27, 2020 · The U.S. Navy’s $500 million electromagnetic railgun—capable of slinging projectiles at hypersonic speeds—lacks funding and has no coherent plan to deploy on warships.

Nov 2, 2024 · Nearly two decades ago, the Pentagon tasked BAE Systems and General Atomics to develop a working railgun that would help steer onboard guns away from gunpowder-based propulsion to electric...

GA-EMS railgun weapon systems feature electromagnetic launchers that use electricity instead of chemical propellants to fire projectiles at high speeds. The high muzzle velocity can be twice that of conventional guns leading to shorter engagement times, extended keep-out, and longer range.

A Railgun is a gun that fires a projectile (bullets or plasma) using a magnetic field produced by electricity. Unlike regular guns, it does not use gunpowder or other explosive propellants, and rarely needs to be cleaned or unjammed.

Mar 5, 2021 · In truth, a railgun is basically a large electric circuit that consists of three parts including a power source (a big power source), a pair of parallel rails and a moving armature.

Aug 12, 2014 · The shell is then launched by the expansion of exploding gun powder. What about a railgun? This weapon can fire a projectile at tremendous speeds without even using an expanding gas.

Apr 17, 2023 · Japan’s Ministry of Defense is looking to partner with the United States on a railgun program that could be used to counter hypersonic weapons, a senior Japanese official told National Defense recently.