Chinese Army Scientists Propose Powerful Super X-Rail Gun

Chinese Army scientists propose powerful super X-Rail Gun that is far stronger than the currently existing electromagnetic gun established by the navy, and this could be a breakthrough development of rail gun dominance in the army. This new strategy should resolve the inherent shortcomings that have dogged the Chinese naval rail gun project since its revolutionary launch in 2018.

The research team, headed by Professor Lyu Qingao of the Army Engineering University of PLA in Shijiazhuang, has come up with a cross-stacking design, potentially transforming electromagnetic projectile weapons and laying new standards in precision striking capabilities at long distances. With this innovation, Chinese Army scientists propose powerful super X-Rail gun as a game-changer in future battlefield technology and long-range weapon systems.

In 2018, the Chinese navy reached the first attempt in history of a global ship-based rail gun system deployed on one of its battle fleets, becoming a significant milestone in the development of electromagnetic rail guns, which drew world-wide attention at the time. Yet this first of its kind system has major operating limitations that restrict its use in the military.

The main problem is the high demand of electrical current which leads to liquefaction of metal during firing periods. This is a basic physics issue that limits shell weights to no more than 15-kilogram projectiles, which severely constrains the destructive capability of the weapon against the modern naval targets.

The existing specifications of the naval rail guns are not sufficient enough to create a serious combatant use. The 15-kilogram weight of the projectile is vastly inadequate to attack heavily armored ships, or fortified bases, leaving an extreme strategic lag between available technology and armed need.

The innovative approach used by the army is the stacking of the two track independent rail gun systems into one unit integrated weapon platform. The prospective doubling of a generation of electromagnetic force under this unprecedented, and newly conceptualized, use of an X-shape armature design has a potential to shatter all conventional constraints on power generation.

The work of Professor Lyu and his research team has developed an advanced technology of a complex system with two U-armatures arranged in crossed district and stabilized by an innovative masonry of insulation materials. Its design involves four rails to form a square 200x200mm bore diameter fed by two independent electrical circuits.

This method or vertical laying helps put two, fully complete, rail gun systems in use, within a single barrel assembly, theoretically giving out twice the propulsive force keeping the structural integrity and safety standards in operation.

X-rail gun system carries the promise of drastically better ballistic performance specification that may well change the effectiveness of electromagnetic weaponry. The structure is to launch 30-kilogram projectiles at Mach 7 speed, a 100 percent increase in projectile mass over current naval systems.

Computerized supply predictions appear to be able to send 60-kg shells with 7.2 Mach speeds, and performance close to the unparalleled capability of transferring kinetic energy. Such specifications permitted addressing targets at 400 kilometers distances, and projectiles were capable of being delivered at impact speeds of more than Mach 4.

The efficient long range flight time of six minutes to the maximum range target allows the weapon strategic benefits in long-range precision strike capability of time sensitive objectives which can change the way artillery and naval gun fire support are executed.

The invention related to the X-rail gun is that the perpendicular arrange of current in a circuit of the magnetic field care. Independent vertical magnetic fields do not interfere with each other and therefore can be used to apply a force, simultaneously without the destructive results of electromagnetic interaction between them.

The design of this approach of “proven technology” is based on the well-established electromagnetic principles with innovative configuration strategies. Dual-circuit design provides redundancy of operation and the most efficient transfer of power as allowed by exponential armature acceleration.

In China patent filings patent filings are made which describe the system of the “electromagnetic rail gun with X-shape armature”; this patent filing provides intellectual property protection to the revolutionary technology of using a weapon system, it shows a serious commitment in development.

X-rail gun system has been known to have theoretical benefits although this is coupled with major engineering issues which need to be addressed so as to put this system to operation. The proximity effect is also a major consideration since very nearby current circuits in the perpendicular direction can generate abrupt alterations in the current distribution throughout conducting materials.

No live fire testing has been conducted and so theoretical performance projections cannot be really verified. It will be determined through real life testing whether the dual-armature system provides predicted velocity and accuracy requirements in the operational environment.

One of these EM problems is electromagnetic interference of independent circuits which should be carefully controlled to avoid system degradation or failure as a result of high-power firing sequence. State of the art insulation and circuit isolation technology should be demonstrated to survive in a worst electromagnetic stress environment.

China is not the only country that is doing something in the international rail gun development program. There are no ongoing active research programmes in the United States military for rail guns due to technological shortfalls, and budget priorities to fund other weapon systems.

Japan is still experimenting with rail guns on a smaller scale by conducting prototypes on small-caliber testing on the ships of the navy. The Japanese current systems employ 300 gram projectiles, which mean a major downgrade in comparison to the Chinese development goals. This is evidenced by the fact that China is continuously investing in electromagnetic weapon technology as international competitors draw down in terms of research.

The X-rail gun system may become decisive in a naval and coastal defense scenario of the future. Greater range and projectile mass capabilities would allow attacking objects to which electromagnetic weapons were untenable. Another strategic factor is its cost-effectiveness where electromagnetic projectiles are not only free of explosive warhead needs, but they also give the battlefield impacts of kinetic energy equal to conventional artillery round.

Also read: PLA Navy Confirms J-35 Stealth Fighter Deployment

The concept of integration with the existing military platforms must be thoroughly tested and validated to be compatible with the existing navy and army systems and have flexibility in operation across a wide range of mission sets.

Effective turning X-rail gun would make China the world leaders in the electromagnetic weapons technology. The two-armature construction is a basic upgrade of single-rail systems implemented today in the world.

Other military uses besides naval platforms include coastal defense facilities, mobile artillery platforms and perhaps aerospace requirements involving high velocity delivery of projectiles.
The maturation schedule of the technology is still not absolutely known and it will depend on the successful settlement of the problems of the proximity effect and complete live fire verification testing programs.

Join us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for real-time coverage of defense events worldwide.