# Railguns (DD-151)

> A railgun is an electromagnetic launcher. A very large electric current runs up one rail, through a conductive projectile or armature, and back down the other rail; the magnetic field this creates pushes the projectile along the rails at very high speed. Conventional guns use chemical propellant instead. The US Navy researched railguns for years and tested prototypes, but paused its program in 2021. Japan's defense agency reported test-firing a railgun from a ship in 2023. Problems include rail wear and the huge power the guns need. The footage shows railgun tests and launches, with the presenter.

- Department: Military (also Tech, Science)
- First published: 2023-12-30
- Last updated: 2023-12-30
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/railguns/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **2021**: The US Navy pauses its railgun program
- **2023**: Japan's defense agency reports a ship-based railgun test

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=railguns

## Quick facts

- **DD-151-F01**: A railgun is an electromagnetic launcher. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Electromagnetic))_
- **DD-151-F02**: Current runs through rails and the projectile. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Two rails))_

## Write-up

A railgun fires without any gunpowder. Current through two rails pushes the projectile out.

1. **Electromagnetic**: A railgun is an electromagnetic launcher.
2. **Two rails**: Current runs through rails and the projectile.
3. **No propellant**: It uses magnetic force, not chemical propellant.
4. **US Navy pause**: The US Navy paused its railgun program in 2021.
5. **Japan test**: Japan reported a ship-based test in 2023.

## Related case files

- [Hypersonic Missiles (DD-059)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/hypersonic-missiles/): I linked more high-speed weapons
- [SAMs (DD-152)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/sams/): I linked another way to hit fast targets

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed. The caption's ending ('forward with tremendous') is cut off in the frames I saw.

## Video: Railguns: A Railgun Fires Without Any Gunpowder

- Duration: 24.9 s · Published: 2023-12-30
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C1fFcqhJou1.mp4

### Transcript

Railguns are electromagnetic projectile launchers that use magnetic fields to propel projectiles at extremely high velocities. DID YOU KNOW? Railguns have high potential for delivering projectiles over vast distances with incredible Unlike traditional firearms that use chemical reactions to propel bullets railguns use electromagnetic forces to accelerate a conductive projectile along a pair of metal rails. This interaction propels the projectile forward with tremendous NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: What drives a railgun projectile?**  
A: Huge currents. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Electromagnetic) · Wikipedia: Railgun)_

**Q: What does the current flow through?**  
A: A loop. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Two rails) · Wikipedia: Railgun)_

**Q: What do conventional guns use?**  
A: Gunpowder. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (No propellant) · Wikipedia: Railgun)_

**Q: What did the US Navy do in 2021?**  
A: After years of research. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (US Navy pause) · Wikipedia: Railgun)_

**Q: Which country reported a ship-based test in 2023?**  
A: Its defense agency. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Japan test) · Wikipedia: Railgun)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Railgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railgun)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Railguns." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-151, last updated Dec 30, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/railguns/