According to a South China Morning Post report, the Chinese Navy recently launched a smart bomb from its massive railgun into the stratosphere, reaching an altitude of 15 km and speeds exceeding Mach 5. However, the demonstration did not go as planned. Mechanical sensor data indicated that the projectile experienced an acceleration of roughly 35 times the force of gravity for about 5 seconds after launch, confirming its hypervelocity capabilities, as detailed in a document. The projectile, equipped with gliding wings, descended in a gentle curve before making contact with the ground roughly three minutes into its flight. However, the test was later deemed unsuccessful as the projectile failed to meet the desired parameters.
“The projectile did not follow the expected trajectory and the maximum range and altitude did not meet the design values,” as reported in a peer-reviewed paper published in the academic journal Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society.
The SCMP report mentioned that although the designed speed and range of the projectile remain undisclosed, naval scientists have expressed ambitions to achieve 200 km at Mach 7 in the future.
Electromagnetic Railguns: Transforming Warfare
An electromagnetic railgun uses electromagnetic forces to launch projectiles at extremely high speeds. It comprises two parallel conductive rails and a sliding armature. A strong electrical current that passes through the rails generates a magnetic field that propels the armature forward, accelerating the projectile. Railguns are being explored for military applications due to their potential for long-range, high-velocity, and precise projectile delivery.
Electromagnetic railguns have significant potential to transform the future of artillery due to their ability to fire projectiles over distances exceeding 100 km at extremely high speeds. In contrast, existing 155mm howitzers typically have a range of 40-50 km. These railguns are also poised to replace naval guns in the future, with the capability to attack ships and boats at longer ranges, and they hold the potential to provide air defence cover through guided shells.
Despite extensive research by many nations over decades, no country has successfully fielded these weapons yet due to significant challenges. The United States invested approximately $500 million in the development of railgun for installation on its Zumwalt-class destroyers, which are currently equipped with conventional 155mm guns; however, the country abandoned the program in 2021 after extensive research spanning several decades.
In December 2023, Japan tested a 5 MJ railgun from a naval warship, firing a 320g projectile at a speed of Mach 6.5, to develop a 20 MJ gun in the future. Several nations, including India, are in the race to develop this revolutionary weapon.
India’s Quest for Electromagnetic Railgun
In the past few years, DRDO has conducted several tests of railgun prototypes, advancing to testing a 10MJ 45mm railgun in 2022. The projectile fired from this railgun, weighing 500 kg, reached a speed exceeding Mach 6, while a 1kg projectile reached Mach 4.8. Additionally, the organisation revealed plans to develop a land-based 100 MJ 155mm Railgun with the capability to fire shells at distances between 100 km and 400 km.
Chinese advancements in Railgun technology
In 2018, a Chinese railgun was detected on a Type 072 III class landing ship. Despite facing setbacks during testing, the attempt to launch a gliding smart bomb from a railgun underscores China’s ongoing efforts and advancements in the development of these cutting-edge weapons. US officials estimate that China could operationally deploy its railgun on naval warships as early as 2025, raising concerns among international observers.
Vinay Sadham
