Latest news with #OmachiKatsushi
Scottish Sun
23-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Terrifying new giant railgun unveiled by Japanese Navy as futuristic hypersonic weapon uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Japanese Navy has unveiled a terrifying new giant railgun that uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph. The futuristic hypersonic weapon was spotted on board the JS Asuka warship, as Japan accelerates its defences amid mounting tensions in the region. 2 The Japanese Navy has unveiled a terrifying new giant railgun Credit: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 2 Leaked images from 2018 show a Chinese warship complete with a railgun prototype Credit: X/XINFENGCAO The railgun was pictured by Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) undergoing some advanced testing. JMSDF confirmed that the commander of its Self Defense Fleet Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi had visited the warship 'to observe the latest status of the railgun'. The mega-weapon weighs a hefty eight tonnes and has a barrel length of 20ft. Using electromagnets, it unleashes 40mm steel projectiles weighing 320g at targets such as ships, missiles, and aircraft - at 6.5 times the speed of sound. Railguns could revolutionise the way wars are fought as they have the potential to wipe out incoming hypersonic ballistic missiles A railgun is a type of weapon that uses powerful electromagnets to accelerate projectiles to very high speeds. Conventional weapons typically use explosives or propellant to launch ammunition, but electromagnetic forces make it possible for a railgun to achieve a much higher "muzzle velocity". While a normal gun might manage a projectile speed of around 4,000mph, a railgun could blast out projectiles faster than 5,600mph. This also means you don't need to transport explosive propellants or warheads - making a railgun-toting warship much safer than traditional vessels. The unveiling of the new weapon system comes as threats have increased in the region - from China, Russia and North Korea. Moment world's first railgun to be fired at SEA shoots steel round at unstoppable 6,000mph…6.5 times the speed of sound And the railgun 'supports the development of Japan's future combat readiness and national defence posture,' according to JMSDF. Research into the new weapon system started in 2016 and it carried out its first onboard firing test in October 2023. Incredible footage from the firing test showed the 44mm-calibre weapon shoot a number of rounds into the ocean from a ship But Japan is not the only country developing a railgun - China has been working on its own version for years in secret. In 2018, leaked images showed Chinese warship Haiyang Shan - a landing craft, equipped with a prototype electromagnetic railgun. The images were leaked online by an analyst called Dafeng Cao, who observes China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Cao sourced a number of images of a PLAN Type 072III-class warship from China's social media site Weibo, apparently showing a railgun on board. The US has been unsuccessful in its attempts to build a railgun system thus far. Several contractors attempted to build a system for US ships for years, including BAE Systems, which created a prototype. The gun was mooted to shoot projectiles at speeds of more than Mach 7 over a range of 100 miles. But the project was eventually scrapped after ten years in 2021 due to budget issues and a lack of interest. The project cost a whopping $500million.
The Sun
23-04-2025
- The Sun
Terrifying new giant railgun unveiled by Japanese Navy as futuristic hypersonic weapon uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph
THE Japanese Navy has unveiled a terrifying new giant railgun that uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph. The futuristic hypersonic weapon was spotted on board the JS Asuka warship, as Japan accelerates its defences amid mounting tensions in the region. 2 The railgun was pictured by Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) undergoing some advanced testing. JMSDF confirmed that the commander of its Self Defense Fleet Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi had visited the warship 'to observe the latest status of the railgun'. The mega-weapon weighs a hefty eight tonnes and has a barrel length of 20ft. Using electromagnets, it unleashes 40mm steel projectiles weighing 320g at targets such as ships, missiles, and aircraft - at 6.5 times the speed of sound. Railguns could revolutionise the way wars are fought as they have the potential to wipe out incoming hypersonic ballistic missiles A railgun is a type of weapon that uses powerful electromagnets to accelerate projectiles to very high speeds. Conventional weapons typically use explosives or propellant to launch ammunition, but electromagnetic forces make it possible for a railgun to achieve a much higher "muzzle velocity". While a normal gun might manage a projectile speed of around 4,000mph, a railgun could blast out projectiles faster than 5,600mph. This also means you don't need to transport explosive propellants or warheads - making a railgun-toting warship much safer than traditional vessels. The unveiling of the new weapon system comes as threats have increased in the region - from China, Russia and North Korea. Moment world's first railgun to be fired at SEA shoots steel round at unstoppable 6,000mph…6.5 times the speed of sound And the railgun 'supports the development of Japan's future combat readiness and national defence posture,' according to JMSDF. Research into the new weapon system started in 2016 and it carried out its first onboard firing test in October 2023. Incredible footage from the firing test showed the 44mm-calibre weapon shoot a number of rounds into the ocean from a ship But Japan is not the only country developing a railgun - China has been working on its own version for years in secret. In 2018, leaked images showed Chinese warship Haiyang Shan - a landing craft, equipped with a prototype electromagnetic railgun. The images were leaked online by an analyst called Dafeng Cao, who observes China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Cao sourced a number of images of a PLAN Type 072III-class warship from China's social media site Weibo, apparently showing a railgun on board. The US has been unsuccessful in its attempts to build a railgun system thus far. Several contractors attempted to build a system for US ships for years, including BAE Systems, which created a prototype. The gun was mooted to shoot projectiles at speeds of more than Mach 7 over a range of 100 miles. But the project was eventually scrapped after ten years in 2021 due to budget issues and a lack of interest. The project cost a whopping $500million.
The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Terrifying new giant railgun unveiled by Japanese Navy as futuristic hypersonic weapon uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph
THE Japanese Navy has unveiled a terrifying new giant railgun that uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph. The futuristic hypersonic weapon was spotted on board the JS Asuka warship , as Japan accelerates its defences amid mounting tensions in the region. 2 The Japanese Navy has unveiled a terrifying new giant railgun Credit: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 2 Leaked images from 2018 show a Chinese warship complete with a railgun prototype Credit: X/XINFENGCAO The railgun was pictured by Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) undergoing some advanced testing. JMSDF confirmed that the commander of its Self Defense Fleet Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi had visited the warship 'to observe the latest status of the railgun'. The mega-weapon weighs a hefty eight tonnes and has a barrel length of 20ft. Using electromagnets, it unleashes 40mm steel projectiles weighing 320g at targets such as ships, missiles, and aircraft - at 6.5 times the speed of sound. read more on japan Railguns could revolutionise the way wars are fought as they have the potential to wipe out incoming hypersonic ballistic missiles A railgun is a type of weapon that uses powerful electromagnets to accelerate projectiles to very high speeds. Conventional weapons typically use explosives or propellant to launch ammunition, but electromagnetic forces make it possible for a railgun to achieve a much higher "muzzle velocity". While a normal gun might manage a projectile speed of around 4,000mph, a railgun could blast out projectiles faster than 5,600mph. Most read in The Sun This also means you don't need to transport explosive propellants or warheads - making a railgun-toting warship much safer than traditional vessels. The unveiling of the new weapon system comes as threats have increased in the region - from China, Russia and North Korea. Moment world's first railgun to be fired at SEA shoots steel round at unstoppable 6,000mph…6.5 times the speed of sound And the railgun 'supports the development of Japan's future combat readiness and national defence posture,' according to JMSDF. Research into the new weapon system started in 2016 and it carried out its first onboard firing test in October 2023. Incredible footage from the firing test showed the 44mm-calibre weapon shoot a number of rounds into the ocean from a ship But Japan is not the only country developing a railgun - China has been working on its own version for years in secret. In 2018, leaked images showed The images were leaked online by an analyst called Dafeng Cao, who observes China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Cao sourced a number of images of a PLAN Type 072III-class warship from China's social media site Weibo, apparently showing a railgun on board. The US has been unsuccessful in its attempts to build a railgun system thus far. Several contractors attempted to build a system for US ships for years, including BAE Systems, which created a prototype. The gun was mooted to shoot projectiles at speeds of more than Mach 7 over a range of 100 miles. But the project was eventually scrapped after ten years in 2021 due to budget issues and a lack of interest. The project cost a whopping $500million.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Japan's navy unveils railgun designed to down China's hypersonic missiles
Japan's navy has unveiled a ship-mounted electromagnetic railgun intended to down incoming Chinese hypersonic missiles. The large futuristic-looking weapon system was pictured last week undergoing advanced stages of testing on the flight deck of the experimental JS Asuka warship. Tokyo has been intensely focused on fielding its next-generation weapons as threats increase in the Indo-Pacific from China, Russia and North Korea. The railgun does not require explosives or propellant but relies on electromagnetic energy to launch projectiles at supersonic speeds, providing a cost-effective and quick response to potential fast-moving missile threats. It fires at higher velocities than regular weaponry, with its ammunition travelling at 2,500 metres per second (m/s), compared to traditional tank guns, which fire shells at speeds of around 1,750 m/s. Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) said that Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi, the commander of the Self Defense Fleet, had visited the Asuka 'to observe the latest status of the railgun, which is under development at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency'. Officials said the weapon would bolster naval missile defences, having the potential to engage air, sea and land targets with higher levels of accuracy than conventional munitions. Research into the new weapon system started in 2016 and it carried out its first onboard firing test in October 2023. The railgun 'supports the development of Japan's future combat readiness and national defence posture' JMSDF said last week. Japan needed to strengthen its country's defence capabilities after it estimated it had only 60 per cent of the interceptor missiles needed for national defence in 2022. The US navy suspended its own railgun programme in 2021 after a decade in development that cost more than $500million over significant power and overheating challenges. But China has been developing its own electromagnetic gun for years under a shroud of secrecy. In 2018, photographs showed Chinese warship Haiyang Shan, a landing craft, equipped with a prototype electromagnetic railgun. India, Russia and Turkey have also tested prototypes. The UK, despite research, is not building its own railgun. Instead, it is in the advanced stages of developing a direct energy weapon known as DragonFire. Tipped as a revolutionary weapon, DragonFire uses lasers to down drones and missiles with an intense light beam, not projectiles fired by electromagnetic forces, and costs £10 a shot. Ukraine has developed its own laser weapon which is understood to have been modelled on a UK prototype after designs were shared with Kyiv in 2024. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
22-04-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
Japan's navy unveils railgun designed to down China's hypersonic missiles
Japan's navy has unveiled a ship-mounted electromagnetic railgun intended to down incoming Chinese hypersonic missiles. The large futuristic-looking weapon system was pictured last week undergoing advanced stages of testing on the flight deck of the experimental JS Asuka warship. Tokyo has been intensely focused on fielding its next-generation weapons as threats increase in the Indo-Pacific from China, Russia and North Korea. The railgun does not require explosives or propellant but relies on electromagnetic energy to launch projectiles at supersonic speeds, providing a cost-effective and quick response to potential fast-moving missile threats. It fires at higher velocities than regular weaponry, with its ammunition travelling at 2,500 metres per second (m/s), compared to traditional tank guns, which fire shells at speeds of around 1,750 m/s. Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) said that Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi, the commander of the Self Defense Fleet, had visited the Asuka 'to observe the latest status of the railgun, which is under development at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency'. Officials said the weapon would bolster naval missile defences, having the potential to engage air, sea and land targets with higher levels of accuracy than conventional munitions. Research into the new weapon system started in 2016 and it carried out its first onboard firing test in October 2023. The railgun 'supports the development of Japan's future combat readiness and national defence posture' JMSDF said last week. Japan needed to strengthen its country's defence capabilities after it estimated it had only 60 per cent of the interceptor missiles needed for national defence in 2022. The US navy suspended its own railgun programme in 2021 after a decade in development that cost more than $500million over significant power and overheating challenges. But China has been developing its own electromagnetic gun for years under a shroud of secrecy. In 2018, photographs showed Chinese warship Haiyang Shan, a landing craft, equipped with a prototype electromagnetic railgun. India, Russia and Turkey have also tested prototypes. The UK, despite research, is not building its own railgun. Instead, it is in the advanced stages of developing a direct energy weapon known as DragonFire. Tipped as a revolutionary weapon, DragonFire uses lasers to down drones and missiles with an intense light beam, not projectiles fired by electromagnetic forces, and costs £10 a shot. Ukraine has developed its own laser weapon which is understood to have been modelled on a UK prototype after designs were shared with Kyiv in 2024.
