The JS Asuka is already navigating with an electromagnetic cannon on deck. And that can only mean one thing: Japan is serious

It is not a render or a model: he Japanese Riel Canyon is already physically mounted in the JS Asukaa ship designed to experiment with new technologies. The images, captured from The port of YokosukaThey show the weapon without their exterior housing, apparently ready for the last settings before a possible test at sea. Everything indicates that this test is close. It could even have already been done, although for now there is no official confirmation.

The published images by the user @Gov_vessel_fan They show the exposed cannon, without the external roof that normally hides it. At first glance, everything indicates that it is the same prototype as the Agreement, Technology and Logistics Agency of the Japanese Ministry of Defense (ATLA) has tried in controlled conditions. It is not clear if the design has evolved significantly, but its appearance coincides with the one that ATLA has shown publicly on other occasions.

Extreme speed, extreme wear

One of the great challenges of Riel cannons is the extreme wear. The friction generated when firing high -speed projectiles causes a rapid tube deteriorationaffecting both precision and reach. According to data collected by Naval Newsthe previous trials of the Japanese prototype have achieved speeds of up to 2,000 meters per second, with a useful life of the 120 projectile cannon.

Click to see the publication in x

Installing a rail cannon is not simply a matter of space. This type of weapons requires a huge amount of energy to function, in addition to cooling systems capable of dissipating the heat generated. All that occupies volume, consumes resources and demands a very careful integration. That is why the JS Asuka, with its wide rear cover and its role as a floating test bench, is ideal for this development phase.

Click to see the publication in x

Although the current prototype looks bulky and little integrated, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has more ambitious plans. In the DSEI Japan 2025 fairthe authorities They showed a model Much more stylized of the weapon, already thought for operational use.

According to National Defense MagazineKazumi Ito, director of the ATLA Equipment Policies Division, confirmed that the development “is progressing”, although he acknowledged that there are still “various challenges” ahead. The intention, yes, is clear: to integrate this technology into new generation destroyers.

For years, the United States Navy led the development of Riel cannons, but in 2022 he decided to officially abandon the project after multiple delays and technical complications. He never did such advanced tests. Japan, on the other hand, has chosen to continue exploring this route, And he is doing it in collaboration with the North American country.

Images | Maritime Self -Defense Force of Japan | @Gov_vessel_fan

In Xataka | China is building an electromagnetic canyon of space airplanes, a project that NASA abandoned due to lack of funds

In Xataka | They are not fighters, they are planes of the Slovakia government: the day an Airbus A319 and a Fokker 100 stole the show