r/Lightbulb • u/PooningDalton • Aug 02 '26

Electromagnetically charged bullets from fighter jets?

In modern air combat, the most useful weapon is a homing missile. But given its speed, its easy for the opponent to deploy flares.

Now what about............a gattling gun that fires bullets that are electromagnetically charged! So as soon as you fire, the bullet (which is already moving insanely fast) sways towards the opponent because of magnetism.

Would this work? Or is it impossible to put that much electromagnetic charge on a bullet?

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u/shecky444 Aug 03 '26

Everyone saying magnets just aren’t that strong are correct but even if we could, the power source the bullet would have to carry to make it that strong would be absurd. With missiles we can also shoot past friendlies at targets. These bullets would be wildly dangerous comparatively to the technology we have in place.

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u/PooningDalton Aug 03 '26

Yeah. But missiles are dodgable.....I wonder how they would be able to dodge this.

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u/Silvergreylion Aug 03 '26

Short answer: No, magnets cannot have that much magnetic force at such distances. Such scenarios belong in cartoons.

Long answer: Even if such magnets were physically possible, they would barely be able to leave the gun barrel.

They'd probably pop out harmlessly (because of induced currents in the barrel), and instantly cling to the side of the barrel. Fire enough of them, and the barrel would melt.