"Chinese army demonstrates rifle-sized railgun prototypes" Topic

"According to Liu Xuanzun on Global Times, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has miniaturized an electromagnetic railgun and developed pistol- and rifle-sized synchronous induction coilgun prototypes. These weapons' technical capabilities were recently revealed to the general public for the first time in a demonstration session…"

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Amicalement
Armand

Cool but where is the power pack?

I assume that, like the Gauss rifle of Traveller, each magazine has a battery with enough energy to shoot all of the rounds in the magazine.

They're not railguns at all, although they are electromagnetically driven. They're coilguns, which operate very differently, essentially on the same principle as maglev trains. Because there's no physical contact between the projectile and the "gun," you don't get the gout of flame or the horrendous screech.

People went berserk with the US shooting depleted uranium core bullets everywhere. They are going to lose their minds when the Chinese start littering the battlefield with spent lithium ion batteries!

That is interesting, but not sure I see the point until we get small flechette darts being fired at very high speeds, instead of bullets.

"They are going to lose their minds when the Chinese start littering the battlefield with spent lithium ion batteries!".

One would think that, but I don't recall that happening with all of the battery-powered cars currently, and ALL of the very large batteries they use for those. Keep them a few years, and just like any battery, you have to replace them too, for tens of thousands of dollars.

I also don't recall seeing any environmental impact statements/studies being filed/conducted prior to these beginning to be sold either, which is REALLY interesting.

I wonder how much noise they make when fired, and what the advantages vs. disadvantages are for these weapons?

"I wonder how much noise they make when fired"

Did you read the article?

"I also don't recall seeing any environmental impact statements/studies being filed/conducted prior to these beginning to be sold either, which is REALLY interesting."

You don't do EIRs for consumer products.

You also don't need them for things that are already widely used (lithium ion batteries). The car batteries are just arrays of smaller batteries.

Have you considered the environmental impacts of lead acid batteries?

In some ways, the technology is trivial: youtu.be/TWeJsaCiGQ0

Keep them a few years, and just like any battery, you have to replace them too, for tens of thousands of dollars.

Toyota's battery has a 10-year warranty, as I recall, so you're not out of pocket for the entire cost if you have to replace it during that time. Of course, you've saved thousands of dollars of maintenance over that period compared to driving a car with a gasoline engine.

Toyota also has a long-standing recycling program, which mitigates environmental issues.

I expect similar arrangements from other manufacturers.

Glad you enjoyed it boys!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Yes, I read the article, but how loud IS "relatively quiet"?

Inquiring minds want to know.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand