According to foreign media reports, a set of photos released by foreign social media recently showed that a new electromagnetic railgun has been installed at the stern of the test ship of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, which may undergo a new round of technical testing.

  In the photo, the turret of this new electromagnetic rail gun is designed with an angular shape, the barrel is flat octagonal, and there are several white containers behind the turret for loading the supporting power supply system. The Asuka test ship is the first specially built test ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It was put into service in March 1995 and is used as a maritime test platform for Japan's new weapons and equipment.

  Unlike traditional artillery that relies on the gas pressure generated by gunpowder combustion to push the projectile out at high speed, electromagnetic guns convert electromagnetic energy into instantaneous kinetic energy and launch the projectile at extremely fast speed in a short period of time. In theory, its launch efficiency is much higher than that of traditional artillery. The US Navy also developed electromagnetic railguns, but after dozens of test firings, it encountered serious wear and ablation of the barrel, so the research and development work was shelved. In contrast, Japan's electromagnetic railgun technology has passed the barrel strength test.

  Research on electromagnetic railgun technology in Japan began in the 1990s, and at that time, the research and development of small-caliber (16mm) railgun technology was mainly carried out. In 2016, based on the preliminary technical research and development, Japan officially launched the R&D plan for the 40mm electromagnetic railgun system and invested a lot of money continuously. This research and development plan is to make important progress in 2022, and the projectile speed reaches 2500 meters/sec through 120 launch durability tests. In October 2023, the Technical Logistics Bureau of the Ministry of Defense of Japan cooperated with the Maritime Self-Defense Force to conduct the first shooting test of the electromagnetic railgun prototype gun at sea. According to relevant information released by Japan, the total weight of the electromagnetic railgun prototype gun is about 8 tons, the barrel is 6 meters long and the diameter is 40 mm. There are two types of shells. One is a simplified integrated shell, weighing about 300 grams and having a length of 140 mm; the other is a relatively complex separation shell, weighing about 320 grams and having a length of 160 mm, and a muzzle velocity of 2297 meters/sec.

  This new electromagnetic rail gun has been practically modified based on the prototype gun. It mainly installs a turret and a barrel, integrates the gun body, launch track and exposed lines, realizes the functions of turret rotation and barrel pitch, and installs a dust-proof cover for the muzzle, and then opens it before firing.

  Japan's electromagnetic railgun is mainly used for air defense interception operations, and the Japanese Ministry of Defense has included it in the anti-hypersonic weapon program. According to the 2022 plan of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, it is planned to complete the development of a prototype gun for small-caliber ship-based electromagnetic railgun for anti-ship operations by 2027, and launch a medium-caliber air defense version that can be installed on ships, ground or vehicles by 2028. The next goal is mainly to miniaturize the supporting power system and reduce the charging device volume by 90% within 10 years. What new progress will be made in this test of Japan's new electromagnetic rail gun? It is worth continuing to pay attention to.

[Editor in charge: Gao Qiang]