Europe Just Fired an Electromagnetic Railgun Into Open Air

Scientists at the Research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL) have taken electromagnetic railguns a step closer to real-world use after successfully firing the system in its first open-range trial.

Unlike previous laboratory demonstrations, the projectile traveled through open air along its intended trajectory, marking the first time the technology has been tested outside a controlled environment.

Although the launch lasted only milliseconds, ISL said it capped years of research and testing while marking the beginning of efforts to evaluate the railgun under more realistic operating conditions.

Read the full story on NextGen Defense: Europe Just Fired an Electromagnetic Railgun Into Open Air