The World's Largest Railgun

This is the world’s largest railgun

This goliath of a weapon was under development by the US navy

Starting in 2005, the goal for phase I was to create a 32 megajoule muzzle energy weapon capable of firing a projectile 100 nautical miles. The weapon requires no propellant, using only electricity, making it safer to have on a ship and has insane penetrating power.

It fires discarding sabot rounds that are basically large metal darts at a staggering speed of mach 7 or 5370.88 mph.

The US Navy succeded in it’s phase I goal with the eventual aim being to make a more powerful 64 megajoule railgun

However, despite over half a billion dollars invested into the project, they couldn’t get past a few hurdles. Firstly the gun ripped itself apart each time it fired. You can even see this here, as its innards are hurled out of the barrel and turned into plasma.

Secondly this thing was energy hungry only a zumwalt-class destroyer has enough power to house this thing and there are only 3 of those in existence. So in 2022 funding for the project was scrapped.

Nevertheless, the project isn’t completely over as funding for the project could be picked up again at anytime.

[CEOofTrains]

this shit annihilated the Decepticon "Devestator" during the battle for the Pyramids in '09

[ericsadler]

The company I work for makes this gun. The part about it being energy hungry is very true. However, the one my company makes doesn't come apart every time it fires, as the narrator says. However, after it is fired a certain number of times, it does start to melt the barrel of the gun. Because that amount of energy is almost as hot as lightning. Doesn't use propellent, but it's the closest thing we have to shooting lightning out of a gun. They need to surround the barrel with some sort of coolant to control the temperature. Maybe that will increase the number of uses for the gun.

[muneka]

they ain't using my tax dollars right 🗣🗣🗣🗣

[dylanblake]

More then likely figured it out said it was scrapped then continued under top security clearance

[RandomYoutubeGuy]

The United States military is no longer working on a railgun. However, Japan has taken the lead and picked up the project, partnering with the United States instead of the United States by itself, they successfully fired a round from a gun mounted on a naval vessel too if I remember correctly. Those Halo MAC guns are still a possibility guys!

[ResidentNerd]

"Has unbelievable penetrating power" Im sure Drake still beats it by 30 inches

[AtnT]

"Unbelievable penetrating power"
That's what she said

[borednekoguy]

"we can't make the railgun"
not with that attitude

[robdom]

A weapon so powerful, it even destroyed its own development...

[tritium]

A small Chinese landing ship had enough power to actually test a railgun.

[hello_i_exist_uwu]

“unbelievable penetration power”
*sighs and checks comments*

[samsmusichub]

Worst way to go is getting railed by the Navy.

[ChristoperWalker]

Our great military minds. This is A wonderful weapon. That has a lot of potential.

[TeTickler]

Is it wrong that i immediately thought "hey, what of we put a human in front of it?"

[friendlyhippie]

Leave it to the government to use 500 million on something, then say the hell with it & abandon it...

[EdwardMismas-dr]

I remember the r&d on this project. I wonder what Darpa is up to these days.

[GhostChild]

Now put this into space and we got ourselves a MAC gun....aimed at our planet 😂

[confirmhandle]

Hold on let me just look down this barrel for a moment I think I left my watch in there.

[anthony]

Lasers and magnetic weapons will be the future of military prowess.

[narenprince]

0:18 That discarded sabot makes a quite familiar pattern...