// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Electromagnetic Railgun
An electromagnetic railgun is a weapon that uses powerful magnetic fields and electric currents to launch a projectile at extremely high speeds, instead of using traditional explosives like gunpowder.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
An electromagnetic railgun is a non-explosive, directed-energy weapon system that uses electromagnetic force (the Lorentz force) to accelerate a conductive projectile, or armature, to hypervelocity speeds along parallel metallic rails, enabling long-range kinetic energy strikes.
BACKGROUND
A railgun or rail gun, sometimes referred to as a rail cannon, is a linear motor device, typically designed as a ranged 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. The railgun uses a pair of parallel rail-shaped conductors, along which a sliding projectile called an armature is accelerated by the electromagnetic effects of a current that flows down one rail, into the armature and then back along the other rail. It is based on principles similar to those of the homopolar motor.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Railgun
- EM Railgun
- Hypervelocity Projectile Launcher
- Mass Driver
- Linear Electromagnetic Accelerator
- Kinetic Energy Weapon
USAGE NOTE
This term is frequently used when discussing future naval warfare capabilities, specifically for long-range surface bombardment and missile defense roles.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Electromagnetic Railgun.
A key developer for the U.S. Navy's railgun program, GA-EMS created the Blitzer™ multi-mission railgun system, including the projectile and high-density pulsed power systems required to operate it.
A major global defense contractor that designed, built, and delivered a 32-megajoule prototype electromagnetic railgun launcher for the U.S. Office of Naval Research's program.
The primary U.S. government agency that funded and managed the development of electromagnetic railgun technology for naval applications, coordinating research and testing with contractors and Navy labs like the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division.
An agency of the Japanese Ministry of Defense that is actively developing and testing a medium-caliber maritime electromagnetic railgun as part of Japan's defense modernization efforts.
A prominent Turkish defense corporation that has developed and successfully tested its own land-based electromagnetic gun systems, including the TUFAN project, demonstrating a domestic railgun capability.
A major Chinese state-owned enterprise heavily involved in China's naval weapons development. It is widely credited with developing the naval railgun prototype seen undergoing at-sea trials aboard a Chinese Navy vessel.
A premier research and development center for the U.S. Navy that has been the primary site for the testing and evaluation of prototype railguns and hypervelocity projectiles developed under the ONR program.