Japanese Navy unveils ship-based railgun to counter Chinese hypersonic missiles

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has unveiled for the first time a ship-based electromagnetic railgun designed to intercept and destroy hypersonic missiles. The system, which was tested last week aboard the experimental ship JS Asuka, could significantly enhance the Japanese Navy's air defenses, The Telegraph reports.

Unlike traditional artillery systems that use explosives or a powder charge, the railgun propels projectiles with electromagnetic pulses to speeds of around 2,500 m/s – significantly exceeding the speed of conventional tank guns, which reach around 1,750 m/s. The developers claim that this speed provides a rapid and cost-effective response to fast-moving targets at sea, in the air and on land.

Vice Admiral Katsuhi Omachi, commander of the Joint Self-Defense Force, visited JS Asuka to review the progress of the railgun tests, the JMSDF said. The project, managed by the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA), began in 2016 and is scheduled to conduct its first sea-fire test in October 2023.

"This railgun supports the development of Japan’s future combat readiness and national defence posture," the JMSDF said in a statement. The Japanese government has previously noted a shortage of interceptors, with only about 60% of the required number by the end of 2022, and is looking for next-generation systems to counter threats from China, Russia and North Korea.

However, the development of electromagnetic artillery often faces difficulties. In 2021, the US Navy suspended its own railgun program after spending more than $500 million due to power and heat dissipation problems.

In the UK, on the other hand, they are developing the DragonFire laser weapon, capable of shooting down drones and missiles with a focused beam, costing about £10 (approximately UAH 557) per shot. Ukraine is already working on energy-action systems, relying on British models.

After a successful demonstration phase, Japan is moving on to integrating the railgun into the fleet structure and improving the guidance and power systems.