China claims breakthrough with electromagnetic gun on warship

Electronic portal81.cnChina's military confirmed on March 14 that the country is testing its self-developed electromagnetic cannon and installing it on warships. Beijing claims to have achieved a new breakthrough, helping electromagnetic cannons operate stably on warships.

Zhang Xiao, an expert from the Chinese People's Liberation Army Naval Engineering University, chief engineer of the manufacturing project.pulsed DC power system to charge electromagnetic guns, said they achieved a breakthrough after hundreds of failures and more than 50,000 different tests.

Zhang is also the head of a research team that is looking to overcome technical barriers in installing an electromagnetic launch system on warships, which is believed to be applicable to China's future aircraft carriers.

Military experts say the US still has the upper hand in developing energy sources for electromagnetic guns, but the new breakthrough will help China catch up with its rivals to possess this powerful weapon.

The railgun project involves 200 scientists from 20 research institutes across China. In early February, images circulated on Chinese technology forums showing the Chinese navy installing a gun suspected to be a large-caliber railgun on the bow of a Type-072II amphibious assault ship.

Railguns do not use explosives but instead use the energy of electromagnetic rails to propel the projectile at speeds of up to 7,200 km/h, nearly 6 times faster than sound and much faster than conventional artillery shells. According to the US Office of Naval Research (NRO), railguns can change the course of war. The large range and fast response speed will help strengthen the power of warships equipped with this weapon.