[jyl]

I think this is cool, but - I am not totally clear in what situations this would be better than a missile, which has more range, is also guided, can deliver a lot of energy in a variety of forms, can strike at different angles (e.g. objects not line of sight), and have relatively simple launchers which can be deployed in redundant numbers on a wide variety of ships. Admittedly missiles are expensive but the railgun projectiles will need a guidance system (that can survive the acceleration) so that is some of the missile's content right there. Also the railgun projectile gets there faster - but 6 minute flight time and the requirement for a direct hit, means it is still not good for mobile targets.