Changes

#High lethality (energy-on-target)  

#High lethality (energy-on-target)  

The projectiles them selves can offer several benefits as well. Although the rail gun projectiles are not cheap, they are much less expensive than current weapon systems.  Also, they are much smaller, meaning that a navy ship can carry a much greater compliment of weapons than is currently possible.  

The projectiles themselves can offer several benefits as well. Although the [[tungsten]] rail gun projectiles are not cheap, they are much less expensive than current weapon systems.  Also, they are much smaller, meaning that a navy ship can carry a much greater compliment of weapons than is currently possible.  

==Progress==

==Progress==

The U.S. Navy tested a railgun that shot a 7-pound projectile traveling seven times the speed of sound (mach 7), sending a visible shockwave through the air.<ref>[http://www.nswc.navy.mil/ET/railgun/index.html U.S. Navy: Electromagnetic Railgun] ''(DEAD LINK)''</ref>  They are now up to 23 pound projectiles, which can travel for over 100 miles, and still posses enough kinetic energy to cause significant damage.<ref>http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/rail-gun-u-s-navy-top-gun-article-1.1749616</ref> Developers are also working on including guidance systems and warheads in the railgun rounds.<br />

The U.S. Navy tested a railgun that shot a 7-pound projectile traveling seven times the speed of sound (mach 7), sending a visible shockwave through the air.<ref>[http://www.nswc.navy.mil/ET/railgun/index.html U.S. Navy: Electromagnetic Railgun] ''(DEAD LINK)''</ref>  They are now up to 23 pound projectiles, which can travel for over 100 miles, and still posses enough kinetic energy to cause significant damage.<ref>http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/rail-gun-u-s-navy-top-gun-article-1.1749616</ref> Developers are also working on other features, including [[GPS]] guidance systems and warheads in the railgun rounds.<ref>http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun3.htm</ref><br />

Current problems with railguns are power generation and barrel life. Railguns require large amounts of power to work in the first place. They also go through barrels quickly because of the extreme temperatures inside the barrel, and intense forces driving the rails apart when used.  Components have the tenancy to melt and wear our quickly. However, railguns are being developed successfully by U.S. companies such as General Atomics<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNLrQhn5nLo</ref> and BAE Systems.<ref>http://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/electromagnetic--em--railgun</ref>  Cool down, fire rate, fire speed, range, and projectile type are all elements in development, but offering all of these along with a durable rail system can be quite complicated.<ref>http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun2.htm</ref> Much work is being done to design a reliable device for the navy which satisfies theses and other requirements. However, limited "hobby" models can be designed by almost anyone with enough knowledge in electrical engineering.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAs9EHtKfVc</ref>

Current problems with railguns are power generation and barrel life. Railguns require large amounts of power to work in the first place. They also go through barrels quickly because of the extreme temperatures inside the barrel, and intense forces driving the rails apart when used.  Components have the tenancy to melt and wear our quickly. However, railguns are being developed successfully by U.S. companies such as General Atomics<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNLrQhn5nLo</ref> and BAE Systems.<ref>http://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/electromagnetic--em--railgun</ref>  Cool down, fire rate, fire speed, range, and projectile type are all elements in development, but offering all of these along with a durable rail system can be quite complicated.<ref>http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun2.htm</ref> Much work is being done to design a reliable device for the navy which satisfies theses and other requirements. However, limited "hobby" models can be designed by almost anyone with enough knowledge in electrical engineering.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAs9EHtKfVc</ref>