# US Navy Railgun (Update) By Chris Skleryk | Published 2008-02-01 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/us-navy-railgun-update References: [ohgizmo](http://www.ohgizmo.com/2008/02/01/navy-test-fires-10-megajoule-railgun-holy-cow/#more-9299) About a year ago, the [US Navy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stavatti-aerospace-sm39-razor) decided to create a once fictional weapon only found in [video games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vividq-call-of-duty). They did so successfully with the 8-Megajoule Railgun. In the video we see here, the Navy successfully fires a Railgun that is thought to be just over 10-Megajoules, which would fire at a speed of 5,600 MPH. I'm pretty sure that'll leave a mark! The Navy's goal is to create a system with about 64-Megajoules which would mean it would hit speeds of 13,000 MPH. Check out the Trend below to get a little memory refresher on what the Railgun is. ([Click here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_OjZyQ6LGE) to see another video) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 46% | Activity: 80% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Inventions](https://www.trendhunter.com/inventions) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Railgun Advancements:** Disruptive innovation opportunities lie in further advancing railgun technology to achieve higher speeds and greater energy outputs. - **Military Weaponry:** Opportunities for disruptive innovation exist in developing new and improved military weapons and technologies, such as railguns. - **Energy Efficiency:** Disruptive innovation can be pursued in creating more efficient and sustainable energy solutions, as railguns require a significant amount of electricity to operate. ### Who This Affects Most - **Defense:** The defense industry can explore disruptive innovation in the development of advanced military weapons, such as railguns. - **Energy:** The energy industry can seek disruptive innovation in improving the efficiency and sustainability of energy production to support high-energy technologies like railguns. - **Transportation:** Opportunities for disruptive innovation in transportation arise in leveraging railgun technology to propel vehicles at extremely high speeds. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Riproaring Electric Boats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/riproaring-electric-boats.md) - [Hypersonic Launch Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/launch-vehicle.md) - [Hyper-Fast Electric Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lightning-motorcycles-tachyon-nb.md) - [Synchronous Firing Water Guns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/synchronous-firing-water-gun.md) - [Electrified Supercar Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nissan-hyper-force.md) - [Creator-Backed Toy Guns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mrbeast.md) - [Hydrogen-Powered Hypersonic Airplanes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sky-magnetar.md) - [Gel-Equipped Toy Blasters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pro-gelfire-mythic.md) - [Gel Pellet Toy Guns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hasbro-1.md)