An electromagnetic rifle, which propels a steel projectile using electromagnetic coils, is now being offered for pre-order in the US by Arcflash Labs, a Los Angeles company specialising in industrial pulsed power devices.
People have been building weapons that propel bullets with magnetic force for more than a century, from small student projects to the US Navy鈥檚 giant experimental railguns, but they haven鈥檛 previously progressed beyond the research stage.
The new device is known as the GR-1 (鈥淕auss rifle鈥�) ANVIL. It is a coilgun, with eight sets of electromagnetic coils in the barrel to attract a steel projectile down the centreline and accelerate it to high speed. The makers say it has a muzzle energy 鈥� the energy of a bullet as it leaves the barrel 鈥� of around 85 joules, comparable to high-end air rifles used for hunting, or about half the power of a .22 calibre rifle. At 9 kilograms, it is heavier than traditional weapons, and at $3375 it is also more expensive.
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Arcflash co-founder says two developments have made the GR-1 possible: low-cost commercial semiconductor switches and the company鈥檚 patented inverter. This transfers power from a battery to capacitors that can discharge rapidly enough to fire a bullet. The rate of fire is limited by how fast the capacitors can be charged. With Arcflash鈥檚 inverter, the weapon can fire 100 rounds per minute rather than waiting minutes for each shot.
The muzzle energy is still comparatively low, due to capacitor limitations. 鈥淭he one thing holding Gauss rifles back from their potential is capacitor energy storage,鈥� says Wirth.
He says that capacitor storage is growing steadily and the weapons will eventually rival traditional firearms. Arcflash received initial development funding from the US Army, but Wirth cannot discuss the firm鈥檚 current military work.
Wirth sees stealth and logistics as key advantages of the GR-1. Ammunition is much simpler, requiring just a projectile without any propellent or cartridge. A standard lithium polymer battery can power 1000 shots and can be recharged in the field using solar power or other sources.
Being able to vary the muzzle velocity may make the technology useful for non-lethal ammunition such as rubber bullets.
鈥淭he scalable effects of a Gauss rifle would allow law enforcement to fire rubber bullets at a speed proportional to their distance to target, so they鈥檙e less likely to injure someone if they鈥檙e close and more likely to reach the intended target if they鈥檙e far away,鈥� says Wirth.
He says researchers and animal control specialists have enquired about the potential for using electromagnetic rifles to fire tranquiliser darts more safely and at longer range than currently possible.
, an analyst at security consultancy firm C/O Futures, says that the technology has significant stealth advantages, especially with the lack of report and muzzle flash in night engagements.
鈥淚f the kinetic energy levels increased, the Gauss rifle would be ideal for sniper use,鈥� says Bunker. 鈥淔urther, traditional conical bullets could potentially be replaced by ring-airfoil projectiles which may offer enhanced body armour penetration and wounding capabilities.鈥�
He says that such devices have long been expected to replace traditional gunpowder weapons. 鈥淭he question, however, is when,鈥� says Bunker.
