US military tests 'Star Wars' electromagnetic rail gun that fires projectiles at 4,500 mph and can penetrate concrete 100 miles away

[bigwave]

• Railgun exceeds accelerations of Mach 6, which is six times the speed of sound
• It uses electromagnetic energy to propel a metal projectile at huge speeds
• Powerful missiles are fuelled by a 'pulse power system' and ship electricity
• Navy has been working on the gun since 2005 and say it is the future of warfare

The US Navy is testing an electromagnetic gun that can fire projectiles at six times the speed of sound.

Described as 'Star Wars technology' by researchers, these powerful missiles don't rely on chemical propellants and are fuelled by electricity alone.

Strong magnetic fields are created by electricity on the ship and a 'pulse power system' to sent propellants flying at 4,500mph.  

The technology has previously been shown to penetrate concrete at 100 miles away.

Railguns are touted as one of the future technologies of warfare, using kinetic and laser energies instead of classic controlled explosives. 

Because the missile is fired using kinetic energy this eliminates the risks associated with keeping explosives on a ship. 

The Department of the Navy's science and technology corporate board chartered the Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) to build the EM Railgun, which uses generated by the ship, according to the Office of Naval Research.

An electric pulse is sent to the railgun which creates an electromagnetic force which releases the projectile at Mach 6, or 4,500 mph. 

According to the ONR: 'The railgun is a true warfighter game changer.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4338944/US-military-tests-railgun-fires-bullets-4-500-mph.html

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[MyLadiesDaddy]

Hey Shabbs this question is for you. I know that your a highly trained surveyor so can you please educate me how a super high tech weapon like the railgun can fire a round at 4500 mph that can penetrate concrete 100 miles away,"OVER THE CURVE OF THE EARTH". Are these smart rounds with GPS tech embedded so as to bend some hundreds of feet? Or maybe it's possible that gravity is so powerful that it keeps the high speed round inline with the ground.     

[tankdude]

It's not just a Navy thing anymore -

http://www.scout.com/military/warrior/story/1675096-army-howitzer-fires-rail-gun-round

"While the weapon is currently configured to guide the projectile against fixed or static targets using GPS technology, it is possible that in the future the rail gun could be configured to destroy moving targets as well, Navy officials have explained over the years."

[nstoolman1]

This is no secret. They used one in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

Agent Simmons ordered a strike against Devastator. I thought everybody knew this. 

[Texstorm]

Thanks Bigwave ! It's kinda hard for a deer to escape a 180 fps , I mean my recurve is slow but only very few have got away. I don't think it's possible to escape 4500 mph rail gun fired from a hundred miles away. I'd still rather take my chances with a rail gun, at least you wouldn't know it's coming. LOL !