Japan progresses test of shipboard electromagnetic railgun

Japan's railgun under development, seen here on JS Asuka . (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force)

Japan has released images of its shipboard electromagnetic (EM) railgun, which suggest that the weapon system will soon undergo a wider variety of at-sea trials.

In a post made via its official social media page on 18 April, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) disclosed that Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi, its fleet commander, had visited JS Asuka to observe the railgun.

The visit took place on 9 April, according to the JMSDF statement.

Asuka is a 151 m destroyer-like vessel that was commissioned by the JMSDF as a survey and research ship in March 1995.

In response to questions from Janes in October 2023, a spokesperson from Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed that Asuka has been installed with the EM railgun as part of efforts to test the weapon system.

This confirmation followed an announcement from the MoD's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) in the same month disclosing that the first shipboard firing of the EM railgun had taken place.

In the latest images released by the JMSDF, the EM railgun can be seen within a turret-like structure that allows the weapon's barrel to oscillate on its vertical axis.

Furthermore, the weapon has been incorporated with a full-length barrel shroud, presumably to protect the EM railgun from the elements and accidental contact.

These changes suggest that ATLA and the JMSDF are in the midst of or are preparing to deploy Asuka for at-sea firings of the EM railgun system on targets at various distances.