The Railgun Returns: General Atomics Unveils a Reinvented Electromagnetic Weapon
General Atomics is reviving the railgun program with a new generation of electromagnetic weapons capable of firing hypersonic tungsten-pellet payloads.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) is pushing its railgun program forward, positioning it as a potential modern air defense solution for saturation attacks and high-speed threats.
The effort centers on an electromagnetic weapon designed to fire projectiles at hypersonic speeds, giving them the velocity and kinetic energy needed to engage ballistic and cruise missiles.
Mike Rucker, head of GA-EMS Weapons Programs, told Naval News that the platform’s extreme muzzle velocity will serve as the key in providing the speed needed to intercept very fast targets.
Illustration of a railgun weapon system firing a projectile over a desert test range. Photo: General Atomics
He also noted that the weapon uses tungsten-pellet payloads, conceptually similar to airburst rounds used by some anti-aircraft guns, which could offer a lower-cost effect per engagement than conventional interceptor missiles.
https://nextgendefense.com/railgun-general-atomics-weapon/
