Overview

• Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency published photos on September 10 confirming June–July trials in which a railgun mounted on the JMSDF test ship JS Asuka fired at a target vessel at sea.
• ATLA reports the trials included long‑range shots and a strike on a target ship, though the number of rounds and the extent of damage were not disclosed.
• Earlier testing recorded hypersonic muzzle velocities of roughly 2.3 kilometers per second, and the current prototype reportedly weighs about eight metric tons with a six‑meter, 40‑millimeter barrel firing ~320‑gram projectiles.
• Developers describe the weapon as a prospective layer in a cost‑effective, shipborne defense against anti‑ship missiles, hypersonic threats, and massed drones.
• Significant hurdles persist, including power supply demands and barrel wear, with more details slated for ATLA’s November symposium; the U.S. halted its railgun program in 2021 as China pursues railgun and laser systems.