The US Navy the first of what it hopes to be a whole new type of gun. Call the RAIL GUN, the unit fires nonexplosive projectiles at incredible speeds, using electricity rather than gun powder. With the added advantage of extending the reach of naval guns more than ten times the current distance!
The railgun works by sending electric current along parallel rails, creating an electromagnetic force so powerful it can fire a projectile at tremendous speed.
Because the gun uses electricity and not gunpowder to fire projectiles, it's safer, eliminating the possibility of explosions on ships and vehicles equipped with it.
The test model of the gun can deliver about the same energy to a projectile as present naval guns, however once the gun is put into production, the output is very likely to be 6 or 7 times as much energy.
Even though the warheads won't be very large, they will be able to hit targets 200 to 250 miles away and hit with the power of a Tomahawk rocket due to the fact that they will impact with tremendous force.
Even though the warheads won't be very large, they will be able to hit targets 200 to 250 miles away and hit with the power of a Tomahawk rocket due to the fact that they will impact with tremendous force.
2 comments:
Think of the capacity for this system to deliver small payloads into orbit inexpensively and consistently (...and, I guess, the potential for accidents, perhaps, given that unlike a traditional rocket launch, there would be little in the way of safeguards or ability to change trajectories)
You know, I was thinking the very same thing about the ballistic nature of the projectiles...however we must consider all the development in smart projectiles that has come to light in the last few years. I suspect that the very opposite is the case. Even hypersonic payloads would be able to take advantage of GPS and either flight or gyro controls to alter the flight. I have long thought that EM rails or others of their ilk would change the face of space flight. Heinlein did so well to popularize them in his stories. I would think that with minimal tinkering, it could also aid manned launches. I know the initial impulse would have to be low, so the tracks would be long, but the good part is that a rail can be used both ways, not only to toss but also to receive.
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