Is this true? On December 9th, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that Chinese naval engineers have stated that they have successfully verified a prototype of an electromagnetic railgun, capable of firing 120 rounds at a muzzle velocity exceeding 2,000 meters per second, maintaining significant shooting accuracy.
As a typical representative of a new generation of weapons, the electromagnetic railgun is recognized as a “game-changing weapon for future warfare.” Many countries, including the United States and Japan, have invested heavily in this field, but China has achieved the most significant technological breakthrough to date!
The concept of an electromagnetic railgun sounds futuristic. It is said to have been initially proposed by a Swedish scientist several decades ago, although there are also claims that it was put forward by American scientists. The United States has been conducting research in this field since the 1950s, for over 70 years, but has yet to realize practical application breakthroughs.
In principle, the electromagnetic railgun is very simple, using electromagnetic force and a magnetic field to launch projectiles without the need for gunpowder or other chemical propellants, only requiring electrical energy. The advantages of this weapon include extremely high initial projectile velocity, an extremely long range, low operating costs, and excellent safety performance.
In theory, the projectiles launched by an electromagnetic railgun can reach speeds of several kilometers per second at the moment they exit the barrel. This is several times faster than the velocity of projectiles fired by traditional artillery, which is typically a few hundred meters per second. As a result, the projectiles from an electromagnetic railgun can easily reach distances of several hundred kilometers and possess immense kinetic energy capable of penetrating any mainstream armor protection.
The ammunition for an electromagnetic railgun no longer requires propellants. It consists of a solid metal alloy projectile, reducing both weight and cost. Additionally, this eliminates the risk of explosions during storage and transportation. When firing electromagnetic projectiles, there is no longer any flash, smoke, or noise, providing superior military stealth capabilities. The advantages of electromagnetic railguns over the traditional cannons used by humanity since the 14th century are numerous, but the challenge lies in their complex development.
In fact, American scientists in the 1980s developed a verification prototype of an electromagnetic railgun capable of launching super-high-speed projectiles by using a plasma armature. They set a record with a muzzle velocity of 7.45 kilometers per second. However, during test firings, scientists discovered that the momentary high current, powerful electromagnetic fields, and strong electric fields caused severe erosion and damage to the interior walls of the railgun, rendering the barrel unusable after only a few shots.
At the same time, the stable supply and storage of electricity remain significant challenges, preventing the practical deployment of electromagnetic railguns in combat. Subsequently, one by one, major military powers worldwide discontinued their research and development of railguns. The remaining countries investing in this technology are China, the United States, and Japan, which made a high-profile announcement on October 17th of this year, declaring the completion of the world’s first-ever sea-based electromagnetic railgun test. However, the information provided by Japan is limited, with no significant data disclosed on projectile quality, and only an eight-second video clip released.
In fact, the United States has effectively suspended the research and development of electromagnetic railguns and officially terminated the project. Starting in 2005, the U.S. Navy spent over 16 years and more than 500 million dollars on research and development. However, in 2021, the U.S. Congress halted funding for the project, and the U.S. Navy archived all related data, shifting focus to the development of laser defense weapons. However, laser weapons have a maximum range of just a dozen kilometers, far less effective than electromagnetic railguns.
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