Breaking News: Italy begins development of Herakles railgun demonstrator for hypersonic strikes and orbital launches.

As reported by Marco Florian Geo on July 9, 2025, the Italian Ministry of Defense officially approved on June 27, 2025, the launch of the second phase of the Herakles program, an ambitious initiative aimed at developing a hypersonic electromagnetic railgun system for both terrestrial and space applications. The second phase follows the completion of the first phase, which began on October 5, 2023, and concluded positively. The contract for the new phase was assigned by General Angelo Assorati to the company Kairospace via a negotiated procedure, due to the company’s prior involvement and technical qualifications. Funding for this phase totals €896,700 for 2026, with 50 percent financed by the Ministry of Defense and 50 percent by the contractor.
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Electromagnetic railguns operate by accelerating projectiles along two parallel conductive rails using high-intensity electric currents that generate magnetic fields, producing muzzle velocities between 2,000 and 3,500 meters per second. (Picture source: US DoD)

The Herakles program, managed administratively by the Ufficio Tecnico Territoriale Armamenti Terrestri in Nettuno, is structured into three phases. The first phase, completed in 2023 with public funding of €317,200, focused on the definition of a functional system architecture and a preliminary technology assessment. The newly launched second phase is intended to develop and validate a demonstrator railgun system for military use. The total value of this phase, including the contractor’s share, exceeds €1.79 million. The demonstrator is required to remain available for five years for operational testing and participation in innovation exhibitions related to the Italian Armed Forces. In addition to hardware development, the contractor is required to deliver documentation such as operational manuals, implement a quality assurance system, and comply with royalty clauses based on any future product revenues. A dedicated support team will be created, potentially including external consultants funded up to 1 percent of the contract’s base value.

Technically, the Herakles railgun aims to launch small- and medium-sized inert projectiles at hypersonic speeds for kinetic strike applications, including coastal defense and anti-armor missions. A secondary goal is to adapt the same electromagnetic propulsion technology for placing mini- and micro-satellites into orbit, indicating potential dual-use applications in both defense and aerospace contexts. Engineering efforts are focused on addressing two core challenges: minimizing thermo-mechanical stress on the launcher’s structural materials and improving the efficiency of its electrical configuration. These challenges are currently among the main barriers to scalability and sustained operational use of railguns. The contractor, Kairospace, is responsible for developing the demonstrator and associated support systems, with the project being excluded from public performance reporting due to its military relevance. According to the official documentation, the program does not involve radioactive materials or Class 2+ laser systems and is therefore not subject to SMD W 001 publication requirements.

Electromagnetic railguns operate by accelerating projectiles along two parallel conductive rails using high-intensity electric currents that generate magnetic fields. This mechanism enables kinetic energy projectiles to reach velocities that significantly exceed those achievable by conventional guns using chemical propellants. Typical railgun systems aim to produce muzzle velocities between 2,000 and 3,500 meters per second, with energy outputs ranging from 5 to 50 megajoules. The principle is based on the Lorentz force, which acts on the projectile (or armature) as current flows through it, producing linear acceleration. Unlike traditional firearms, railguns can potentially reduce logistical burdens by eliminating the need for explosives and chemical propellants. However, the extreme electrical currents involved, often exceeding several million amperes, create significant stress on components. Railgun barrels and rails are subject to erosion, thermal damage, and magnetic repulsion forces that pose material science challenges. Current designs rely on strong conductive materials and hybrid armatures, including sliding metallic, plasma, or composite configurations. Power sources typically involve capacitors or compulsators capable of rapid energy discharge, but these systems remain large and costly.

Research into railgun optimization has introduced augmented railgun designs, which include additional conductors to enhance magnetic field generation without proportionally increasing current. Some configurations integrate neodymium magnets or use magnetically permeable materials in the barrel to strengthen field intensity. However, even with these enhancements, energy efficiency remains a constraint, with launch systems often achieving only a fraction of their theoretical maximum output due to resistive losses and mechanical drag. Heat dissipation is another significant issue, as friction and electrical resistance generate temperatures capable of degrading or deforming structural components. Solutions under development include improved heat-resistant materials, ceramic rail coatings, and liquid cooling systems. Guidance of railgun projectiles remains an unresolved challenge due to high G-forces, plasma interference, and electromagnetic fields that can disrupt onboard electronics. Nonetheless, the potential benefits in range, reduced time-to-target, and munitions logistics continue to drive railgun research in multiple countries despite the technological barriers.

In the United States, the Navy and Army began long-term railgun research as early as the 1980s. Notable developments included the Electromagnetic Railgun Program led by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and BAE Systems. U.S. Navy test firings reached energies of 32 megajoules, and projectile velocities exceeded 2,500 meters per second. Despite demonstrating technical feasibility, programs encountered persistent issues with barrel life, energy supply requirements, and cost-efficiency. As of 2021, funding for U.S. railgun development was eliminated, and focus shifted to hypersonic missile systems. In parallel, Japan has conducted systematic research on railgun technologies since 2016 through the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA). By 2023, Japan completed the first confirmed shipboard firing of a railgun system using a 40mm-caliber weapon mounted on the JS Asuka. The system achieved sustained performance over 120 firings with no significant rail degradation and reached velocities above 2,000 meters per second, fulfilling multiple research goals related to barrel durability and energy management.

China and India are also actively pursuing railgun capabilities. China’s development surfaced publicly in 2017 when a prototype was mounted aboard the Type 072III-class landing ship Haiyangshan. U.S. intelligence reports suggested China began ground tests in 2014 and proceeded to sea trials soon after, aiming to integrate the system with broader anti-ship and strike capabilities. India, through the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), tested a 12mm square-bore railgun in 2017 and announced plans for a 30mm version. DRDO aims to achieve projectile velocities over 2,000 meters per second using capacitor banks rated at 10 megajoules. Railguns and directed energy weapons are also included in India’s naval modernization roadmap to 2030. In Europe, Germany and France announced in 2025 their intention to cooperate with Japan on a trilateral railgun program, marking the first such collaboration among these nations in the high-energy projectile domain. Meanwhile, Türkiye’s Aselsan and Yeteknoloji, as well as Russia, are reported to be developing indigenous railgun technologies, although publicly verified technical achievements remain limited.