France is positioning itself on the artillery of the future.
There have been few truly disruptive technologies in the military field in recent years, with the notable exception of combat drones. The electromagnetic cannon can be part of these military revolutions and shake up naval defense. Capable of launching projectiles at hypersonic speeds, this technology is now attracting the interest of major powers, with France leading an innovation that could redefine military strategy at sea. Discover behind the scenes of this technological feat!
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The electromagnetic gun promises to shake up naval defense
The concept of an electromagnetic gun is not new, but it has long been considered an anecdotal experiment with no future. The US Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) began research in 2005, partnering with defense industry heavyweights such as BAE Systems and General Atomics to develop a electromagnetic railgun (EMRG) supposed to upset the naval artillery. The EMRG promised multiple advantages: elimination of explosive propellant charges, ability to reach extreme speeds, and increased range compared to conventional artillery. However, after years of promising tests, the US project was forced to slow down, mainly due to budgetary constraints. American military priorities then evolved towards the research and development of hypersonic missiles, leaving an opening for other international actors, including France.
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A technological race towards the unknown
Electromagnetic cannon technology is attracting more and more nations, aware of the strategic advantage that this innovation could offer. In Asia, the China has expressed interest for this technology by claiming to have carried out a test on the Haiyang Shan, an amphibious assault ship, although conclusive evidence of these tests remains absent. For its part, Japan has achieved concrete results. In October 2023, the Japanese Defense Ministry's Agency for Technology, Acquisitions and Logistics (ATLA) conducted a successful test of a railgun capable of propelling 40mm projectiles at an impressive speed of 2,230 m /s, or Mach 6.5. This success places Japan among the rare countries with real progress in this area and makes it a key player in the technological race towards hypersonic weapons.
France, Germany and Japan join forces
Building on its initial successes, Japan decided to enter into a technological partnership with France and Germany, in order to accelerate the development of electromagnetic weapons. This agreement, called TORaims to lay the foundations for lasting technological cooperation between the Japanese ATLA Agency and the Franco-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL). The ISL, a renowned research center in Europe, has already developed impressive prototypes such as the “PEGAGUS” and the “RAFIRA” cannon. The latter is capable of firing 25 mm projectiles with accelerations exceeding 100,000 G. Thanks to this collaboration, the three nations hope to consolidate their respective skills to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency and precision.
European projects: PILUM and THEMA, Europe Takes the Lead
In Europe, the project PILUM (Projectiles for Increased Long-range effects Using ElectroMagnetic railgun)coordinated by the ISL, has already demonstrated the possibility of launching high-speed projectiles over distances of several hundred kilometers with remarkable precision. Funded by the European Defense Fund, this project far exceeded expectations, and paved the way for the THEMA (Technology for Electro-Magnetic Artillery) program, launched in June 2023 with a budget of 15 million euros. THEMA marks an important step forward in the transition from theory to practice, exploring concrete technologies to deploy this revolutionary artillery in an operational military context. The European program also aims to consolidate Europe's strategic autonomy in defense, reducing its dependence on the United States and strengthening its capacity to innovate independently.
The French Navy on the road to hypersonic artillery
The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) French company has discreetly launched its own electromagnetic gun project intended for the French Navy, in partnership with the ISL. This audacious project, still in development, aims to position France as a pioneer in the use of electromagnetic weapons for maritime defense. At the next Euronaval exhibition, the Defense Innovation Agency (AID) will officially unveil the “RAILGUN electromagnetic gun project”a system designed to strengthen the firepower of the French Navy in the face of saturation threats and hypersonic weapons. The RAILGUN promises strategic advantages, with an estimated range of over 200 km and the ability to launch projectiles at hypersonic speeds, making interception of moving objects extremely difficult.
The technical and technological challenges of a hypersonic gun
The operating principle of the electromagnetic gun is based on the use of a powerful magnetic field, generated by an intense electric current circulating between two conductive rails. This interaction propels the projectile with prodigious force, reaching speeds that can exceed Mach 8.7, or nearly 10,800 km/h. However, this technology imposes considerable design challenges. The materials used must withstand extreme mechanical stress and withstand the intense heat generated during firing. Additionally, the system requires a massive, instantly releasable power source capable of maintaining the power needed for each shot. Finally, guiding projectiles at hypersonic speed constitutes a major challenge in ensuring the precision of the impact.
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This article explores international advances and strategic alliances in the field of electromagnetic weapons, with a particular focus on the role of France and Europe in this technological race. Between innovations and strategic partnerships, this story highlights the emergence of hypersonic artillery and its revolutionary potential for naval defense.
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