Page "Strategic Defense Initiative" Paragraph 57

A hypervelocity railgun works very much like a particle accelerator insofar as it converts electrical potential energy into kinetic energy imparted to the projectile.

A conductive pellet ( the projectile ) is attracted down the rails by electric current flowing through a rail.

Through the magnetic forces that this system achieves, a force is exerted on the projectile moving it down the rail.

Railguns can generate muzzle-velocities in excess of 24 miles per second.

At this velocity, even a rifle-bullet sized projectile will penetrate the front armor of a main battle tank, let alone a thinly protected missile guidance system.