Japan has unveiled a new and powerful weapon capable of reaching speeds of 5,600 km/h.
The advanced “Railgun” is designed to intercept threats such as hypersonic missiles and drone swarms, and could play a key role in future defense systems.
The electromagnetic weapon is being developed by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) and was recently installed on the warship JS Asuka of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. According to Interesting Engineering, the prototype weighs eight tons, has a barrel six meters long, and can fire 320-gram steel projectiles at speeds up to 2,500 meters per second—around Mach 7.
Instead of using explosives, it relies on magnetic force, making it a safer and more cost-effective alternative to conventional weapons systems.