Chinese Moryaki engineers announced the successful creation of an electromagnetic rail capable of shooting multiple shells without damage to the weapon itself. The weapon maintains high accuracy even during continuous shooting, with shells reaching a speed of 2 km/s. This enables targets to be hit at distances of 100-200 km, surpassing the range of ordinary artillery shells which can only reach a few tens of kilometers.
An electromagnetic rail is a type of weapon that utilizes parallel conductors (rails) with a powerful electric current flowing along them. The interaction between this current and the created magnetic field generates a force that accelerates the shell along the rails.
In a recent test, the railgun fired 120 shells, demonstrating comparable capabilities to some modern artillery systems. Remarkably, the railgun system remained intact after the test, as stated by the researchers.
A publication by a group of scientists from the National Laboratory of Electromagnetic Energy at China Military Engineering University on November 10 indicates that military equipment is progressively transitioning from chemical energy to electromagnetic energy. The ability to continuously fire is considered a crucial measure of combat efficiency.
In contrast, the United States ceased railgun development in 2021, opting to focus on hypersonic missiles. One of the main challenges encountered by the United States was the failure to develop a railgun capable of multiple successful shots without malfunctioning.
The success of the Chinese team can be attributed to the development of a sophisticated measurement and diagnosis system. This system utilizes artificial intelligence technologies to simultaneously collect and analyze data from over 100,000 components. This number far exceeds the amount of sensors found in modern aircraft by nearly tenfold.
The Chinese researchers envision various uses for electromagnetic weapons. One possibility is utilizing this technology to propel trains through a vacuum pipe at speeds of 1000 km/h, surpassing the speed of any currently flying aircraft. Additionally, by tilting the end of the pipe upward, rockets can be launched, potentially reducing the cost of space travel. In November, China constructed the world’s longest vacuum electromagnetic launch pipe in the Shanxi province, attracting research groups nationwide for testing purposes.
These advancements are of significant importance within Chinese military strategy as they have the potential to alter the balance of power at sea, particularly in competition with the United States.