US quietly resumes railgun tests, reviving hypersonic weapon ambitions

The United States Navy has quietly resumed live-fire testing of a prototype electromagnetic railgun at White Sands Missile Range, signaling renewed interest in this hypersonic weapon technology after earlier development setbacks. Railguns use powerful electric currents to launch projectiles at speeds of Mach 6–7 or higher without gunpowder, offering potential advantages such as long-range engagement, rapid fire, and lower operating costs compared to traditional missile systems. The recent tests, conducted in February 2025 over three days, supported the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office’s efforts to advance electromagnetic launch technology, though the exact objectives of the trials remain unclear. The railgun program had been paused in 2021 with hardware placed in storage, but new developments, including General Atomics’ 2025 proposal to integrate railguns into the Pentagon’s missile defense plans, suggest a strategic revival. Despite its promise, railgun technology faces significant challenges, including high electrical power demands, complex cooling requirements, and rapid barrel wear from firing hyperson