Japanese Navy Unveils Electromagnetic Railgun
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The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) has released its first images of a new railgun installed on\u00a0the service’s technology testbed vessel, JS Asuka<\/em>. The new model appears to be more complete than the previous prototype,\u00a0which was first displayed in at-sea testing in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n On April 9, Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi, Commander of the Self Defense Fleet (COMSDFLT), visited JS Asuka <\/em>for an inspection. The vessel belongs to Japan’s Fleet Research and Development Command (FRDC) and the railgun is under development at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA). Naval gun builder Japan Steel Works is closely involved in the project, according to Naval News.\u00a0<\/p>\n ????????????????????????????? ASE-6102?????????????????????????<\/p>\n ?????????????????? pic.twitter.com\/OuRHhqU4I1<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ????? (@HNlEHupY4Nr6hRM) April 9, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Japan’s program has been actively under way since 2016, with testing beginning in 2022. Early work focused on projectile flight stability and the gun’s rapid fire performance – a hurdle for railguns, which generate enormous forces in operation and tend to wear out their “barrels.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Previous illustrations of Japan’s railgun testing program suggest that at least one projectile could be an antiaircraft fragmentation round, not a solid slug as envisioned by the American R&D program.\u00a0<\/p>\n ??? pic.twitter.com\/u5g7A31eEi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ?????? (@tmy_4ns) April 10, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The U.S. Navy canceled its unclassified railgun work in 2021, citing technical problems; the barrel tended to fail after one to two dozen shots, according to Defense News. It is unknown whether aspects of the $500 million program continued under classified status after cancellation, not uncommon\u00a0for American defense R&D. Publicly, though, the service has shifted its focus to high-power solid state laser technology<\/a> for its foray into energy-based weapons. After 10 years of R&D, some U.S. Navy\u00a0leaders have expressed frustration and regret<\/a>\u00a0at the lack of progress with a satisfactory laser platform.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
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