Can the Navy’s Electric Cannon Be Saved?

Defense One: The Navy’s futuristic electric cannon, or railgun, received yet more hype this week for its ability to fire a shell at up to 5,600 miles per hour, and do it far more cheaply than a missile. But there’s a daunting reality behind the hype: the Pentagon is already looking past the railgun to a less power-intensive, more easily deployable alternative. Because of issues with scaling, durability, and power use, the relatively inexpensive railgun rounds, fired from more conventional cannons, may outlive the gun they were designed for.

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