Note the time shown along the bottom edge of the video. Looks to me like it is counting ten-thousandths of a second, i.e. the camera is taking 10,000 frames a second. In part of the video they are tracking the projectile as it is flying along. I wonder how they did that. Was the camera actual tracking the projectile, or did they just use a wide angle view and crop it down so it looks they were tracking it? Our military must have some of the fastest cameras in the world. For another example check out the picture of the howitzer firing.
I am impressed. I am not quite sure just how fast they got the bullet going, but Mach 5 is one of the numbers I read. The Navy's goal is to make a real gun like this that they can install on ships. They are hoping for a range of 200 miles, compare to the 13 mile range they have with their current five inch conventional gun.
The railgun projectile would follow a sub-orbital trajectory. The high velocity at impact would negate any need for an explosive warhead.
Update February 2017 replaced missing image.
Update February 2022 replaced missing video. The top link seems to be dead, but it might just be a temporary problem.
2 comments:
Disadvantage? Mere ballistic accuracy. (Because too many Gees for a payload?)
I am not prepared to discuss the application of this device. Right now I am busy being impressed by the technical aspects.
I do think we (the US) should dismantle all of our atomic weapons. Be a good example to the world.
Post a Comment