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China is reportedly testing the world’s most powerful coil gun. Photos/Illustrations
BEIJING – The South China Morning Post reports that the Chinese Navy is reportedly testing the world’s most powerful coil gun. The coil gun is a kind of electromagnetic weapon capable of launching projectiles at extremely high speeds in the blink of an eye.
China is testing the world’s largest coil gun capable of accelerating a projectile weighing more than 100 kilograms to a speed of 700 kilometers per hour in less than 0.05 seconds.
Coil guns, also known as Gauss guns or magnetic accelerators, are reportedly equipped with a number of coils arranged along the length of the barrel and energized one after the other to create a magnetic field capable of propelling the projectile. The 124 kilogram projectile is said to be the heaviest projectile ever used in such an experiment.
The test was carried out by a team of scientists from the Chinese Navy. Scientists have yet to reveal the exact characteristics of the coil gun or when it will be operational. But they say that the projectiles launched by the weapon can hit targets at a distance of several kilometers.
The projectile is reportedly equipped with a sensor shielded against electromagnetic radiation, which will allow the operator to gather information about its flight.
“This coil gun has the potential for revolutionary breakthroughs in terms of speed, range, power, accuracy, safety, flexibility and reliability,” said professor Guan Xiaocun, leader of the scientific team as reported by Sputnik, Saturday (26/8/2023).
Guan said the weapon would help China’s armed forces to change the nature of combat as it would increase projectile speed and accuracy as well as fire reliability and safety.
“The experience gained in testing such weapons can also be used in launching near-Earth satellites and high-speed rockets,” the scientist added.
Similar tests were carried out by the United States at Sandia National Laboratories in the 2000s. There, a 120mm caliber electromagnetic coil mortar reportedly successfully fired a projectile weighing 18 kilograms.
(ian)