At a time when control of Pacific sea lanes is contested, Japan is positioning its hypersonic electromagnetic railgun development as a strategic centerpiece, aiming to deter Chinese naval threats and shift the regional balance of power.
Tokyo’s latest demonstration, shown by state-run ATLA, displays a prototype railgun firing hypersonic rounds at a moving ship. As the projectile surged forward, the deck shuddered slightly under the silent electromagnetic pulse, while nearby crew members steadied themselves, their expressions a mix of awe and anticipation.
Didn’t I recently read a post about the practical limitations of railguns, which concluded that lasers are better?
Only you can answer that.
I can answer it but it has a 50% chance of being wrong.
No, that was a dream we shared.
Okay, it all makes sense now
For hitting drones and artillery shells? Almost certainly lasers win.
For hitting ships? Railguns, if the problems with the rails getting festroyed after a few shots can be fixed. The Japanese claim 200 shots per barrel. Whether that means just the rails or whole barrel is unclear.