Rail Gun Round Punches thru steel plate and travels 4 miles afterwards.

‘Blitzer’ railgun projectile

General Atomics has been upping the ante on its ‘Blitzer’ Railgun, named after the most dangerous of Santa’s reindeer. GA’s got a new, super aerodynamic dart for it that can travel four miles downrange after being fired at zero elevation and blowing through a 1/8″ steel plate.

Previous tests, the railgun lobbed  projectiles shapped like bricks.  The projectiles behaved like bricks as well, tumbling out of control at Mach 6.  The new round developed with the assistance of Boeing is streamlined and looks to mean business.  If it can make it 4 miles after being launched at zero elevation.  It is an easy bet that it’s round will have an operational range of 150 kilometers or around 93 miles.

 In the video from Defencetech, you are able to see the Blitzer in action.  General Atomics along with Boeing are estimating that the could install the weapon on a DDG-51 class destroyer by the end of the decade.  Already many are suggesting that a miniaturized version could be used in a Tank and when paired with the latest laser technology we have seen.  It would give a Destroyer, BATTLESHIP like qualities.

Source: Dvice, Defensetech