Japan has become the first country in the world to test an electromagnetic railgun on a ship - the cannon can accelerate a 40mm projectile to 2.23km/sec
Japan has tested a railgun. According to the Procurement and Logistics Technology Agency, it was the first ever test of an electromagnetic booster aboard a ship.
Here's What We Know
The tests are an important step in the development of this type of weapon. The Land of the Rising Sun plans to use the new rail gun not only at sea but also on land. The tests were conducted with the participation of the Maritime Self-Defence Force and the Japanese Ministry of Defence.
#ATLA has accomplished ship-board firing test of railgun first time in the world with the cooperation of the JMSDF. To protect vessels against air-threats and surface-threats by high-speed bullets, ATLA strongly promotes early deployment of railgun technology. pic.twitter.com/MG5NqqENcG
- Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (@atla_kouhou_en) October 17, 2023
Details of the test have not been disclosed. The published footage shows the cannon firing several shots. It is known that the railgun can accelerate a 40mm 320g munition to Mach 6.5 numbers (2.23km/sec).
Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force plans to install electromagnetic boosters on Atago-class destroyers. These ships are characterised by advanced capabilities to generate the energy required to operate weapons. Perhaps in the future, the railgun will become part of a missile defence system.
The railgun, which was presented in May this year, took part in the tests. For this purpose, a year earlier, the Research Centre for Ground Systems allocated $47.9 million to Japan Steel Works to create a prototype.
And the history of the Japanese cannon itself goes back to 1990. It was then that the Research Centre began work on a 16mm railgun. After 26 years, specialists moved on to creating a modification to destroy air and surface targets.
Source: The War Zone
