Most powerful electromagnetic rail gun

Electromagnetic (EM) railguns represent a revolutionary, war fighting capability with the potential to deliver lethal firepower at ranges in excess of 200 nautical miles. An EM gun uses an extremely high current flow to create an electromagnetic force that will propel projectiles at speeds greater than Mach 7.0. On 10 December 2010, at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Viriginia, USA, an electromagnetic railgun set a new world record with a 33 megajoule (33 million joules) shot. A single megajoule is approximately the equivalent of a one-ton vehicle travelling at 100 mph. Hence a 33 megajoule shot represents enormous force that is sufficient to destroy targets at extreme ranges without the use of explosive. The same principle has been used in the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System designed for the launch catapaults of the new US Gerald R Ford class of aircraft carrier.