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Japanese ship-mounted railgun successfully hits targets in test

15 points by anigbrowl 1y ago

SilverElfin 1y ago
I read that the US navy abandoned its rail gun efforts and the technology was deemed impractical. What changed that makes this railgun practical?
- gpapilion 1y ago
  The issues were durability, fire rate, and well power. I don’t know that the first two have changed significantly.
- KyleBerezin 1y ago
  Nothing from what I understand. The issue is material science. The rails have a very short life unless fired at far less than full power.
- PicassoCTs 1y ago
  [dead]
janalsncm 1y ago
What is the advantage of using a railgun over a hypersonic missile? Maybe cost, since even if they destroy their rails I assume those are cheaper to replace than a whole rocket?
- helpfulfrond 1y ago
  From the article: "As railguns use electricity instead of explosive force, their projectiles are considered more durable and safer to store."
- KyleBerezin 1y ago
  Yea, cost. It was supposed to be installed on the Zumwalt, with a guided 155mm cannon as an interim, also with the goal to be cheaper than missiles. Unfortunately both ended up being more expensive than missiles. Replacing the rails isn't something that can be done quickly or cheaply. It is kinda comparable to hypersonic missiles in that it can penetrate air defense, but that is about the only overlap, the railgun is long range for a gun, but nothing compared to something like a hypersonic missile.
  - janalsncm 1y ago
    Only guessing here but I figure a railgun might be better suited to defense than offense given its range. Then again, it would only be useful against large, relatively slower targets (i.e. not a hypersonic missile).
    - KyleBerezin 1y ago
      It has been pitched for that, certainly, but without a guided projectile, it is fantasy.
gnabgib 1y ago
In June. Source is a tweet from two weeks ago: https://x.com/atla_kouhou_en/status/1965701798448013737 https://x.com/atla_kouhou_en/status/1965701798448013737 Previously: (27 points) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45227997 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45227997 Related: Japan releases image of Railgun installed on naval vessel (13 points) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43788741 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43788741

15 points by anigbrowl 1y ago

I read that the US navy abandoned its rail gun efforts and the technology was deemed impractical. What changed that makes this railgun practical?

gpapilion 1y ago
The issues were durability, fire rate, and well power. I don’t know that the first two have changed significantly.
KyleBerezin 1y ago
Nothing from what I understand. The issue is material science. The rails have a very short life unless fired at far less than full power.
PicassoCTs 1y ago
[dead]

janalsncm 1y ago

What is the advantage of using a railgun over a hypersonic missile? Maybe cost, since even if they destroy their rails I assume those are cheaper to replace than a whole rocket?

helpfulfrond 1y ago
From the article: "As railguns use electricity instead of explosive force, their projectiles are considered more durable and safer to store."
KyleBerezin 1y ago
Yea, cost. It was supposed to be installed on the Zumwalt, with a guided 155mm cannon as an interim, also with the goal to be cheaper than missiles. Unfortunately both ended up being more expensive than missiles. Replacing the rails isn't something that can be done quickly or cheaply. It is kinda comparable to hypersonic missiles in that it can penetrate air defense, but that is about the only overlap, the railgun is long range for a gun, but nothing compared to something like a hypersonic missile.
- janalsncm 1y ago
  Only guessing here but I figure a railgun might be better suited to defense than offense given its range. Then again, it would only be useful against large, relatively slower targets (i.e. not a hypersonic missile).
  - KyleBerezin 1y ago
    It has been pitched for that, certainly, but without a guided projectile, it is fantasy.

gnabgib 1y ago

In June. Source is a tweet from two weeks ago: https://x.com/atla_kouhou_en/status/1965701798448013737 https://x.com/atla_kouhou_en/status/1965701798448013737 Previously: (27 points) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45227997 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45227997 Related: Japan releases image of Railgun installed on naval vessel (13 points) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43788741 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43788741