Japan's State-of-the-Art Railgun Hits the Target Ship

Japan carried out the world's first railgun shooting from a warship at an actual target vessel. As per the Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), the test occurred this year on the experimental ship JS Asuka, with backing from the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF).

Between June and early July, the ATLA conducted a “Shipboard Railgun Shooting Test.” The railgun, mounted on Asuka's stern flight deck, successfully engaged and hit a target vessel during long-range firings.

Photographic evidence of the test, including the railgun in operation and the target, was shared on the agency's social media.

Advanced Weaponry Technologies

With a radar array and an electro-optical/infrared camera system visible close to another turret, one picture showed the railgun in action. Another image displayed a tug-like vessel in a targeting system's crosshairs.

Notably, target boards were attached on either side of the funnel and at the stern, according to different images of the ship. Without the use of explosive propellants, the railgun shoots bullets at extremely high speeds because of its all-electric power.

In tests, it was able to achieve speeds of almost 2,500 metres per second, whereas tank guns could only reach 1,750 metres per second. According to officials, the weapon's power, speed, and range can be changed based on the objective.

Maritime Engineering Courses examine railgun technology for warships, focusing on electromagnetic principles (Lorentz force, energy storage), projectile design and materials science to handle extreme forces, and guidance/control systems for accuracy. Naval warfare tactics critically depend on understanding target vessel vulnerability and projectile penetration capabilities.

Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force's Role (JMSDF)

In comparison to missiles, the projectiles are smaller, more difficult to detect, and more difficult to intercept because they do not employ explosive warheads. This might provide a significant edge in regions with robust counterfire and missile defence, according to ATLA.

Likewise, the JMSDF's sole experimental warship, the 6,200-tonne displacement ship JS Asuka, has been utilised to test cutting-edge naval technologies. When photos of the new turret mounted at the stern were released in April of this year, it was first seen carrying the railgun.

Furthermore, the test this summer follows an experiment in 2023 that, according to ATLA, was the first railgun fire from a ship in history. It's the first confirmed live firing test at a real target ship.

Although the U.S. Navy discontinued its railgun development in the early 2020s due to cost and technical concerns, Japan continues to research railgun technology. ATLA stated that it will provide additional information during its Technical Symposium on November 11–12.

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