Navy unveils electromagnetic railgun that can shoot projectiles 5,000 mph

[RKP5637]

Often, I wish humanity spent as much time, money and ingenuity working to help each other for a better earth than that to kill people. Mankind really needs a paradigm shift, no idea how that will ever happen, at least in my lifetime. That said, this seems more a defensive device. The technology looks interesting, probably other applications too for non-warfare.

http://www.wptv.com/news/national/navy-unveils-electromagnetic-railgun-that-can-shoot-projectiles-5000-mph

SAN DIEGO (KSWB/CNN) – The U.S. Navy on Tuesday showed off it’s high speed “railgun,” a $250 million project expected to change the way America fights wars.

The railgun is a long-range weapon that fires projectiles using electricity generated from the ship instead of gunpowder.

The projectile weighs around 25 pounds and travels more than 5,000 miles per hour. It would be like going from San Diego to San Francisco in one minute.

Screen Shot 2014-07-08 at 5.50.45 PMNavy officials compare its power to the impact of a freight train traveling 100-miles per hour into a building.

“It can shoot down ballistic missiles. It can shoot down very advanced cruise missiles. It can shoot down fast moving aircrafts,” said Mattew L. Klunder, Chief of Naval Research. “It`s extremely safe and its extremely effective.”

[Nuclear Unicorn]

1. 5,000 mph? Any chance we could use it to deliver pizzas?

[RKP5637]

4. Maybe Amazon could also use it rather than drones!

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. This isn't exactly a new idea.

I remember reading books from the 1950's or so that talked about railguns. So it only took them 60+ years to put a working one together.

[Jenoch]

9. They have had working railguns for decades.

[unblock]

3. seems more a defensive device?

what part of this seems more like shield than sword to you?

sure, it's like a shield, if you usually throw your shield 5,000 mph into a building or ship's hull or an aircraft.

oh, i see, they quoted someone talking about shooting down cruise missiles. right, i'm sure that will constitute 99.75% of its usage.

[RKP5637]

5. I was thinking mostly about cruise missiles, etc. ... but as we know that generally morphs

into something else ... as you say a sword, another weapon.

[hack89]

8. It would be an excellent land attack weapon

accurate, long range and lots of shells.

[PoliticAverse]

6. And some people don't think the US has any high-speed rail... n/t

[unblock]

10. duzy!

[onethatcares]

7. that's great.

I wonder if they'll strap it on an F-35?

Sheeesh, the fucking money wasted on war machines just flabbergasts me.

Can't we ever get ponies for our tax dollars instead?

[eppur_se_muova]

11. First step towards getting a railgun launch to orbit ?? nt