Japan Successfully Tests Electromagnetic Railgun at Sea – Powered by Weibel Radar Technology

September 26, 2025

Japan has reached a major milestone in the development of next-generation defense technologies, successfully conducting the first-ever live-fire test of its electromagnetic railgun against a real maritime target. The landmark trial was carried out aboard the JS Asuka and marked the first time the high-velocity weapon struck an actual object at sea, as confirmed by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA).

The railgun prototype, capable of accelerating projectiles to Mach 6.5 with a 40mm caliber, represents a significant leap forward in kinetic weaponry. The test follows a previous 2023 demonstration, in which the railgun was fired into open water without targeting a specific vessel.

As defense innovation continues to push boundaries, Weibel’s cutting-edge radar systems have played a vital role in enabling long-range weapons testing in complex maritime environments. During this latest railgun test, Weibel’s precision tracking radars supported the evaluation of flight trajectories, impact accuracy, and weapon performance at extreme speeds — reinforcing the value of our solutions in validating emerging military technologies.

Weibel’s fully navalized tracking radars are purpose-built to meet the increasing global demand for testing long-range weapons and countermeasures over open sea. Designed for precision, reliability, and resilience in harsh conditions, these systems are now being deployed more widely by our partners and customers.

We are proud to see our long-standing customer ATLA leveraging Weibel radar technology in one of the most advanced and demanding test environments in the world. As Japan continues to pioneer the future of electromagnetic weaponry, Weibel remains committed to supporting the development and validation of tomorrow’s defense capabilities.