Electromagnetic cannon is a kind of electromagnetic force to accelerate the projectile to ultra-high speed, with the advantages of long range, high power and low cost, and is considered to be a winning weapon in future wars. Recently, China has made another remarkable breakthrough in the field of electromagnetic guns, successfully testing a new electromagnetic orbital launch system, and conducting 120 launch tests that have been safely completed. This move allows China to maintain its leading position in the development of electromagnetics, especially in continuous high-speed and high-precision shooting with the orbit intact.
Principles and advantages of electromagnetic railguns
The principle of the electromagnetic railgun is to use the law of electromagnetic induction, by passing a strong pulse current into two parallel electromagnetic tracks, a huge Lorentz force is generated, and the armature (projectile) sandwiched between the tracks is pushed forward, so as to achieve the purpose of launching. The advantage of the electromagnetic railgun is that it does not require the use of gunpowder or other chemical propellants, so it can avoid problems such as **, pollution, noise, etc., and at the same time, it can also greatly reduce the weight and volume of ammunition, and improve the efficiency of ammunition storage and transportation. In addition, the rate of fire of the electromagnetic railgun can reach thousands of meters per second, or even tens of thousands of meters per second, which far exceeds the rate of fire of traditional artillery, so it can hit targets at a greater distance, and can also penetrate thicker armor, which is extremely lethal.
Chinese scientists, led by the team of Professor Lu Junyong of the National Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Energy Technology of the Naval University of Engineering of China, have successfully tested a new electromagnetic orbital launch system. The results of this research have been published in the Journal of the Naval University of Engineering, bringing new possibilities to the field of electromagnetic guns.
The core components of this electromagnetic orbital transmission system include two electromagnetic tracks and an armature, which is propelled forward by generating a magnetic force through the discharge of a pulsed power supply. Compared to conventional electromagnetic guns, the system uses a low-conductivity material covering layer on the track surface and a high-conductivity material on the substrate to reduce rail surface damage. This is because, during the firing process of the electromagnetic gun, due to the friction and arc between the armature and the track, a high-temperature and high-pressure plasma will be generated, which will cause serious ablation and melting on the surface of the track, affecting the service life and accuracy of the electromagnetic gun. Therefore, by using a low conductivity material covering, the contact resistance between the armature and the track can be effectively reduced, the generation of arcs can be reduced, and the track surface can be protected.
In addition, the research team proposed a sophisticated charging control and multi-layer hierarchical diagnostic system that can enable real-time monitoring of about 100,000 measurement points for faster maintenance. This is because, during the firing process of the electromagnetic gun, due to the complex circuit of the electromagnetic gun, the output of the power supply is unstable, which will lead to fluctuations in the performance of the electromagnetic gun and affect the reliability and safety of the electromagnetic gun. Therefore, by using the charging control and multi-layer hierarchical diagnosis system, the output of the power supply can be effectively controlled, the status of each component of the electromagnetic gun can be monitored, and the fault can be found and eliminated in time to ensure the normal operation of the electromagnetic gun.
After 120 successful launch tests, the cannon's orbit remained intact and its muzzle velocity was controlled by less than 1%. The test results show that this electromagnetic orbital launch system has a barrel service life equivalent to that of a traditional gun while maintaining high accuracy. This means that this electromagnetic orbital launch system can achieve continuous high-speed and high-precision firing without frequent orbital changes, which greatly improves the combat efficiency and economy of the electromagnetic gun.
The challenges and prospects of the actual combat of electromagnetic guns
China's new electromagnetic railgun has been successfully launched and tested 120 times, and the electromagnetic ** field has made new achievements, which is the pride of Chinese scientists and the pride of the Chinese people. We look forward to more breakthroughs and achievements in the field of electromagnetic guns by China, and make greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and development.