With eye on China’s hypersonic threat, Japan successfully tests railgun

Japan has successfully tested a medium-caliber maritime electromagnetic railgun, marking a potential shift in Tokyo’s defense strategy. The railgun, which uses electromagnetic force to launch projectiles at high speeds, could be used to target aerial threats at sea, such as hypersonic cruise and ballistic missiles. Advantages of railguns include longer range and higher accuracy, lower cost and safer storage, and greater lethality and versatility.