Another weapon inspired by the sci-fi genre, using forces familiar to any physics student, is the electromagnetic railgun, which can accelerate a projectile to seven times the speed of sound.

A shot from the weapon has a power that can penetrate thick sheets of nickel chrome molybdenum steel plates.

The industy-built launchers, which are predicted to be perfected between 2020-2025, will help bring the US Navy a step closer to producing a next-generation, long-range weapon for surface ships.