A team of Chinese scientists and engineers has announced the development of a machine gun with an astounding firing rate of 450,000 rounds per minute, per barrel.
Built in Taiyuan, an industrial hub in central China, the weapon can be equipped with up to five barrels, allowing for a potential maximum rate of fire of two million rounds per minute, according to the developers.
With such a high rate, the machine gun is said to be capable of engaging and intercepting hypersonic targets, which travel at speeds exceeding Mach 7.
In comparison, the US military’s most advanced Phalanx close-in weapon system reaches only 4,500 rounds per minute.
If true, the weapon could significantly enhance China’s ability to counter next-generation threats, cementing its position as a major player in advanced weapons technology.
Challenges
One of the most daunting challenges for weapons capable of firing millions of rounds per minute is ensuring a continuous supply of ammunition.
To address this, the developers have integrated a container-like magazine filled with disposable barrels, which can simply be discarded along with the entire container when depleted.
This method is designed to “improve loading speed, reduce the wear on barrel strength and accuracy from repeated loading, and enable multiple strikes, continuous operations, and rapid counterattacks,” said team leader Lu Xutao from the North University of China.
Another challenge was the mechanical triggers, which struggled to meet the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) requirement of at least 7,500 shots per second.
To solve this, Lu’s team incorporated an electronic trigger that generates a high-energy metal jet to ignite the explosive, with a firing time of just 17.5 microseconds.
The innovation is reportedly sufficient to achieve the target performance of 450,000 rounds per minute.
Previous Attempt by US
In the 1990s, Australian inventor Mike O’Dwyer proposed a 36-barrel experimental weapon capable of firing one million rounds per minute.
The US Department of Defense expressed interest in the invention and offered to collaborate with O’Dwyer to make the weapon operational.
However, due to technical difficulties, the project was abandoned, and O’Dwyer’s Metal Storm Inc. later declared bankruptcy.
In 2006, O’Dwyer revealed that the PLA had offered him $100 million for the technology.
Since then, China has continued to invest in developing the weapon, leveraging its vast technological resources.
