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US Navy tests record-breaking electromagnetic gun
Page last updated at 12:24 GMT, Tuesday, 14 December 2010
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The record blast was strong enough to fire projectiles up to 110 miles (177km)
The US Navy has demonstrated an electromagnetic gun with a world record-breaking blast.
Researchers in Virginia, USA, said it was strong enough to fire projectiles up to 110 miles (177km), though the gun has not yet been fitted to boats.
The shot was powered by electricity rather than gunpowder or rocket motors and measured a velocity of 33 megajoules.
Megajoules are a measurement of the energy in objects travelling at speed.
A one-ton truck travelling at 100mph is equal to one megajoule of energy.
'Game changer'The Navy eventually hopes that the Electromagnetic Railgun will allow ships to strike from 200 miles (321km) away in just six minutes, 20 times further than currently possible.
In a statement, the Navy called the gun "a true warfighter game changer."
It also says "wide-area coverage, exceptionally quick response and very deep magazines will extend the reach and lethality of ships armed with this technology."
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