China claims breakthrough with electromagnetic cannon on warships
Beijing appears to have mastered the technology to charge electromagnetic guns on warships that can fire projectiles six times faster than the speed of sound.
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The electromagnetic gun on the Type-072II landing ship. Photo: SCMP |
Electronic information portal81.cnChina's military confirmed on March 14 that the country is testing its self-developed and installed electromagnetic cannon on warships. Beijing announced that it has 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 hurdles 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 units across China. In early February, Chinese technology forums circulated images showing the Chinese navy installing a cannon suspected to be a large-caliber railgun on the bow of a Type-072II class amphibious assault ship.
Railguns do not use explosives but utilize 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 reaction speed will help strengthen the power of warships equipped with this weapon.
