Reference Message Network reported on May 12th citing a report from Yomiuri Shimbun on May 11th that the Japanese Ministry of Defense has decided to conduct an upcoming test of a new electromagnetic railgun onboard. Electromagnetic railguns are advanced weapons that launch projectiles at high speed using electric power instead of gunpowder. It is reported that this type of railgun can effectively intercept hypersonic weapons, and the Ministry of Defense aims to deploy it on ships equipped with "Aegis" systems.
The unique feature of electromagnetic railguns lies in their ability to pass current through internal rails, generating electromagnetic forces to accelerate specially designed metal projectiles, enabling them to be fired at higher speeds and longer ranges than traditional cannons.
Since they do not require gunpowder, electromagnetic railgun projectiles are easier to store, and their operation is safer.
In addition to attacking ships, aircraft, and drones, electromagnetic railguns can also be used to intercept hypersonic weapons, and are expected to become a "game-changer" that completely alters the balance of military power.
The electromagnetic railgun being tested this time began development in the fiscal year 2016. In the summer of 2023, a smaller version of this railgun was once loaded onto the JDS "Asahi" training ship for testing.
The electromagnetic railgun carried by the "Asahi" this time is closer to the actual size, about 6 meters long and weighing about 8 tons. This will be the first sea firing test using a prototype machine close to the actual size, aiming to confirm whether it can accurately strike targets.
In May 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Defense signed a joint research agreement with the defense ministries and related research institutions of Germany and France to achieve early practical application of this type of railgun. The Japanese government also dispatched technical officials to the US military, which suspended its R&D work, to obtain experimental data from the United States.
According to the Ministry of Defense's plan, electromagnetic railguns will be deployed on ships equipped with "Aegis" systems and new guided-missile destroyers in the future, but there are still problems such as rails being damaged due to burning, difficulty in continuous shooting, and low shooting speed. (Compiled/translated by Liu Lin)
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7503393944596644371/
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