China is taking a big step forward in military technology by developing a new rapid-fire machine gun called the “Metal Storm.” This powerful weapon can fire up to 450,000 rounds per minute per barrel, making it the fastest of its kind. With five or more barrels, this weapon creates an unmatched barrage of bullets, capable of stopping hypersonic missiles flying at speeds greater than Mach 7.
In comparison, the U.S. military’s Phalanx system, one of the world’s most advanced rapid-fire guns, can fire only 4,500 rounds per minute. This puts China far ahead in developing weapons that can respond to modern threats.
One big challenge with rapid-fire weapons is reloading them fast enough. A weapon that uses millions of bullets in a short time needs an efficient way to reload. Researchers in Taiyuan, an industrial city in central China, have come up with a smart solution.
They designed a replaceable magazine that looks like a container. Each magazine is pre-filled with barrels and bullets. Once the bullets are fired, the entire container, including the barrels, is thrown away and replaced with a new one.
This unique system speeds up loading, keeps the weapon accurate, and reduces the wear and tear on the barrels. It allows the gun to fire multiple times, continue operations without delays, and respond to threats quickly.
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The developments were detailed by Lu Xutao and his team from North University of China in a December paper published in the Chinese Journal of Detection & Control.
Traditional machine guns use mechanical triggers, which are not fast enough for the demands of modern warfare. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China requires weapons that can fire 7,500 shots per second. To meet this need, researchers developed an electronic trigger system as the South China Morning Post reported.
This new system uses coils instead of mechanical parts. When the gun is fired, the trigger melts a special alloy wire inside the bullet. This creates a burst of high-energy metal that ignites the bullet’s explosive charge.
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This contactless trigger is high-speed and efficient. It takes only 17.5 microseconds to fire a bullet, making it one of the quickest systems ever created. Tests show this technology meets the target of 450,000 rounds per minute per barrel.
The idea of the Metal Storm weapon is not new. It was first proposed in the 1990s by Australian inventor Mike O’Dwyer. His company, Metal Storm Inc., developed a test weapon with 36 barrels that could fire at an incredible rate of 1 million rounds per minute.
In 2006, the PLA reportedly offered $100 million for this technology. The U.S. Department of Defense also showed interest, hoping to use it for new battlefield weapons. However, the project faced many problems, including technical challenges and high costs. By 2012, Metal Storm Inc. went bankrupt, and the project was abandoned.
China, however, did not give up. Over the years, Chinese scientists and engineers have worked hard to improve this technology. They addressed complex issues, such as how to fire tightly packed bullets in quick succession without causing problems.
In recent years, Chinese researchers have made great progress in developing Metal Storm technology. They are working on new types of bullets with sensors and chips to improve accuracy. Other teams are focused on reducing costs and improving the reliability of disposable barrels.
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According to Lu Xutao, a lead researcher at the North University of China, these advancements mean China’s version of Metal Storm could be ten times faster than the Western prototype from a decade ago. This makes it a powerful tool for modern warfare, especially for defending against high-speed threats like missiles and aircraft.
As weapons and missiles become faster, countries need advanced defense systems to keep up. China’s Metal Storm is seen as a key weapon for the future. It could be used to defend territorial waters, protect airspace, and even play a role in modern battlefield strategies.
Lu Xutao explained that this weapon could become a standard part of China’s military equipment. It offers unmatched speed, precision, and efficiency, giving China an edge in modern warfare.
