New Navy Weapon

[Blackhawk2001]

Likely the projectile will be _much_ smaller since it's supposed to cause damage by kinetic energy transfer instead of an explosive charge. Science fiction lovers will readily recognize the concepts of the railgun and the use of kinetic energy weapons in combat. The obstacles to practical railgun technology are portability, superconducting, room-temperature magnets, and power source. In a short-range weapon, significant velocities could mean laser-like ballistics - a flat trajectory out as far as you can see.

 

[Tomcat_AL200]

No Comment

 

[22lr]

Likely the projectile will be _much_ smaller since it's supposed to cause damage by kinetic energy transfer instead of an explosive charge. Science fiction lovers will readily recognize the concepts of the railgun and the use of kinetic energy weapons in combat. The obstacles to practical railgun technology are portability, superconducting, room-temperature magnets, and power source. In a short-range weapon, significant velocities could mean laser-like ballistics - a flat trajectory out as far as you can see.

Obstacles exist but look at airplanes for example. I bet the wright brothers had no clue that 40 short years after the first flight we would be flying jet aircraft traveling faster than the speed of sound.

Money is probably the only obstacle, so it really sucks we don't have any at the moment.

 

[Bigum1969]

Do you think they'll make a compact version that I'll be able to conceal carry?

 

[Gpfury86]

Did you see the size of the power facility it took to charge the magnets....lol I also agree unless they start splitting atoms to make power for the think in other words using nuclear energy or something, I don't see it working. I can see the email request from the navy for the billion dollar funding required to research it further being deleted.

 

[DaKruiser]

Do you think they'll make a compact version that I'll be able to conceal carry?

Doesn't it already fit in your pocket Bigs?

 

[jeremy]

LOL...

You do realize that the Military has been developing these since the late '60's early '70's right?! Then again there is yet another reason for that HUGE R&D Budget every year...

 

[PurdueJim]

I guess since I live only about 10 miles from the crane base I will only have a few seconds to take cover.

 

[down3green]

I wonder what the speed/friction does to the projectile.

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Warms and abrades it.


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[jbhummer2]

That means I have to build a bigger range and buy more land.

 

[txgho1911]

This same tech is going into the next aircraft carrier in the catapult. Construction on the Ford was holding on test launches that are ongoing.

Navy launches new catapult for aircraft carriers | Technology | Los Angeles Times

 

[Regnar]

Wow, do you think they will settle on Berger VLD or the SMK?

 

[subtlesixer03]

personaly i think this is a means to an end. Once they learn to really well control the eltromagnectic forces being used to launch the round they can use it to launch anything that uses magnetic fields. Like for instance plazma. plazma is a real thing and uses very simalar tech to create and contain. Also it has the ability to pentrate anything known thus far.