The US Army is interested in the electromagnetic rifle

On the battlefields of the future, the smell of gunpowder could well disappear, in favor of other scents that are not necessarily more pleasant. We will certainly find there what is no longer really science fiction with the laser cannons and railguns. The latter are already being tested in several countries as defensive weapons and in particular in Japan, where it is desired to provide the country with a hypersonic anti-missile umbrella equipped with railguns.

But, in the arsenal of weapons powered by electricity, there are also coilguns, otherwise known as magnetic cannons. This type of weapon differs from railgun. Instead of being equipped with two electromagnetic rails propelling the conductive ammunition, it is a single barrel surrounded by several electric coils which successively push the projectile. ferromagnetic to throw it with force. If this kind of project has been more or less abandoned by the armed forces, it is on the side of civilian companies that innovation continues.

Thus, the American company Arcflash Labs has just unveiled its GR-1 Anvil Gauss. It is precisely the first portable rifle with electromagnetic cannon on the market and it is already available for pre-order at the price of 3,375 dollars (on sale!). According to its manufacturer, it can fire ammunition with at least the same power of fire than .22 caliber rifles. According to the boss Arcflash Lab, the American army would have even expressed its interest, as well as the forces of order.

Adjustable firepower

The GR-1 Anvil Gauss is not the first rifle or pistol of this type to have been developed, however, but none of those that have been designed have such firepower. In terms of characteristics, the rifle is 96.5 cm long with a barrel of more than 66 cm, it weighs more than 9 kg, which does not make it a light weapon. It is powered by a lithium ion battery 25.2 polymer volts. The manufacturer specifies that the gun uses a charging system capacitor advanced coupled to an inverter that allows the rifle to fire up to 20 rounds per minute at full power, or up to 100 rounds per minute at half power. On the ammunition side, any bullet with a caliber between 11 mm and 12.6 mm and a length between 30 and 52 mm could be fired from this weapon.

At the moment, US law enforcement interested in the weapon wants to know if it can fire non-lethal projectiles, such as balls in rubber, for example. Ammunition that is necessarily incompatible with the operation of a magnetic cannon. If the rifle attracts them, it is because, with this process, it is possible to regulate the power of the shot according to the distance of the target so that it causes less damage and is not lethal.

Right now, receive the Mag Futura for free by subscribing to our subscriptions!

Did you know that you can access Futura without ads via our subscriptions?
At the moment, you can discover this advantage with our special offer: subscribe to the “I participate in the life of Futura” (for a minimum of 3 months) and receive the Mag Futura at home* (worth €19)!

I’m taking advantage of the offer now!

*Mag Futura is sent after the third month of registration.