Italy enters railgun race – betting on hypersonic edge

Rome: Rome has launched Herakles, an ambitious program to develop an electromagnetic railgun. This puts Italy in the select group of nations exploring one of the most disruptive military technologies of the decade.

The move. Started in 2023 under the Ministry of Defence’s National Armaments Directorate, Herakles (Hypersonic Electromagnetic Railgun for Armour Kinetic Launcher Engine System) is funded by the National Military Research Plan and developed by KairoSpace, an Italian high-tech firm.

The first phase—preliminary studies—has concluded. A demonstrator is expected by 2026, with serial production envisioned in the longer term.

Why it matters. Railguns promise to fire hypersonic projectiles (Mach 6+) without explosives, cutting risks tied to ammunition storage and potentially lowering operational costs.

With ranges projected between 200 and 400 kilometres, such systems could redefine coastal defence, missile interception, and long-range artillery.

Beyond the battlefield, the technology carries a dual-use ambition: the potential to launch small satellites into low orbit directly from Italian soil.