The US Military's Electromagnetic Railgun: The Futuristic Weapon Explained

💥The electromagnetic railgun is a long-range weapon that uses electricity instead of chemical propellants to launch projectiles.

⚡Magnetic fields created by high electrical currents accelerate a sliding metal conductor, or armature, between two rails to fire the projectile.

🔋The railgun uses stored power generated from an external source, such as a ship, to charge its capacitors and send an electrical pulse down the rails.

💣The railgun's projectiles are non-explosive and rely solely on kinetic energy to cause damage to their targets.

🔋❗The railgun's primary limitations are its high power requirement and internal component wear that occurs with use.

How does the electromagnetic railgun work?

—The railgun uses electricity and magnetic fields to accelerate a sliding metal conductor and launch projectiles at high speeds.

What are the advantages of an electromagnetic railgun over traditional explosive round weapons?

—The railgun offers better safety by eliminating the need for propellants and explosive rounds. It is also more cost-effective in the long run.

What is the primary limitation of the electromagnetic railgun?

—The railgun requires an enormous amount of power to operate and is prone to internal damage over time.

Has the electromagnetic railgun been used in real combat?

—No, the railgun is still in development and testing. It has not yet been widely deployed in real combat scenarios.

Are there any plans to overcome the limitations of the electromagnetic railgun?

—Researchers are working on developing a railgun that requires less power and can be mounted on existing warships.

00:04The US military has developed the electromagnetic railgun, a powerful weapon that can shoot projectiles up to 100 nautical miles at Mach 7.5 using only energy as its propellant.

00:32The railgun is a long-range weapon that uses electricity and magnetic fields to accelerate a sliding metal conductor and launch projectiles at high speeds.

01:08The railgun works by storing power from an external source, such as a ship, and using capacitors to send an electrical pulse down the rails.

02:11The railgun's projectiles are non-explosive and rely solely on kinetic energy to cause damage to their targets.

02:53The railgun requires an enormous amount of power to operate and is prone to internal damage with prolonged use.