Railguns: An Overview

Abstract Railguns are electric weapons that use an electromagnetic force to propel a projectile to very high velocities. The high velocities achieved by railguns increase kinetic energy of the projectile, improve range, and eliminate the need to store dangerous, heavy propellants. The weapon traditionally consists of two parallel conductive rails and a conductive armature that rides between the rails. Designs rely on the Lorentz force of a generated magnetic field to propel the armature and projectile. The railgun proposes unique challenges when it comes to rail, armature, and containment structure design. The rails themselves must be highly conductive, while withstanding large thermal and mechanical shocks. Rail damage such as gouging, grooving, and transition and arc ablation are all a concern when these weapons are subject to the large stresses in launch. There are different configurations of the railgun in development to include the multiple railgun, parallel railgun, and augmented railgun. This paper will review these different configurations and their potential. These weapons are currently being considered for use by naval forces and in space operations.