![]() In 2020, China’s Logistical Engineering University of the People’s Liberation Army, considered one of the country’s top military research institutions, unveiled the Small Synchronous Induction Coil Gun. This, in turn, could extend the range of a 155-millimeter howitzer from 30 to 50 kilometers to 100 kilometers, and substantially increase tank main guns’ penetrating power, accuracy and range.Ĭhina is also applying railgun technology to small arms by researching rifle and pistol-size railguns. In contrast to large ship-mounted railguns, this technology could be light enough that it can be mounted on self-propelled artillery and tanks. The plasma layer would then protect gun barrels from wear and heat, enabling firing velocities up to six times the speed of sound. The technology involves creating a layer of plasma inside artillery gun barrels using electromagnetism. China’s ship railgun was reportedly first tested in 2014, with its development starting in 2011.Īpart from large ship-mounted railguns, China announced in 2019 plans to develop magnetized plasma artillery derived from railgun technology. The next month, a People’s Liberation Army-run news outlet reported that the Chinese Navy had achieved a “breakthrough” during the weapon’s sea trials. The existence of China’s ship-mounted railgun was known in January 2018, when pictures of the weapon mounted on the Haiyang Shan first surfaced on social media. If accurate, the test outguns US intelligence estimates that China would have an operational railgun by 2025. The weapon was reported to have fired a 25-kilogram projectile at a target 250 kilometers away with a projectile velocity of 2,575 meters per second.Ī large canon believed to be China’s first homemade railgun is seen on the bow of the Haiyang Shan landing ship. In February 2018, China conducted the first successful test-firing of a railgun at sea, using its railgun prototype on the Type 072III Haiyang Shan landing ship testbed. They also stated that their designs must be fired non-stop and at top energy levels, and that the intensity and scale of these tests would far exceed any of those conducted previously. The researchers said that their designs have unique features not found in US railgun models, such as the absence of an extra muzzle device to reduce electric flashes. Last month, Chinese researchers said that they are trying to solve railgun development problems by intensifying weapon trials and testing innovative solutions such as applying liquid metal on rails to reduce firing wear and using special coatings to reduce damage from repeated firings. ![]() Moreover, as railguns do not use any explosive propellants or projectiles, they are potentially safer to operate and allow for more ammunition to be stored. Her comment is in line with the Navy's latest budget request, which notes that "railgun technology and knowledge attained will be documented and preserved" and "railgun hardware will be realigned to maximize its sustainability to facilitate potential future use.The hypersonic velocity of their projectiles can possibly penetrate the latest armor materials and would be nearly impossible to shoot down in flight compared to SRBMs or anti-ship missiles, which can be shot down, confused by chaff, or jammed by electronic warfare. Courtney Callaghan said in a statement, adding that research would be preserved should the Navy decide to restart the program. The Navy move "to pause the program is consistent with department-wide reform initiatives to free up resources in support of other Navy priorities, to include improving offensive and defensive capabilities such as directed energy, hypersonic missiles, and electronic warfare systems," Lt. The Navy has been working on a railgun, a cannon that uses electricity rather than gunpowder to fire high-speed rounds out to distances beyond current naval guns, since 2005 and has invested over $500 million in the project, but the service's proposed fiscal year 2022 budget cut all funding for the railgun, The Drive first reported in June. The US Navy has decided to shelve the research and development of an electromagnetic railgun to build other weapons, such as hypersonic missiles and lasers, the Associated Press reported, citing a Navy spokesperson. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. ![]()
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