PRC/PLAN Laser and Rail Gun Development Thread

[Michaelsinodef]

EM technologies have great potentials as 'launchers' (vs 'guns').

Ah yea I forgot about that, but from the various military analysts on guancha (Xi Yazhou, Shilao and other chinese ones) that is something that the PLA is looking into, using EM as launchers for missiles (even rockets to space?).
Afterall it could be a way to save a lot of fuel (although launching stuff with EM that have very complex components inside is uh, a challenge because it's launched by EM afterall).

 

[kentchang]

Ah yea I forgot about that, but from the various military analysts on guancha (Xi Yazhou, Shilao and other chinese ones) that is something that the PLA is looking into, using EM as launchers for missiles (even rockets to space?).
Afterall it could be a way to save a lot of fuel (although launching stuff with EM that have very complex components inside is uh, a challenge because it's launched by EM afterall).

Yup. I can see such launchers being indispensable and fast-reacting part of an extended battle-zone ISR network or provide mid-course guidance for very long range ASBMs, HGVs, and SAMs. Current U.S. open-literature discussions focus on disrupting the kill chain instead of countering modern munitions during terminal phase. This makes the kill chain much more survivable thus a great deterrence value.

The 20% excess power that the first batch of 055s are supposed to have will come very handy for both EM and DEW purposes.

 

[sferrin]

Why would that be the case? It seems to be straightforwardly a better naval gun.

Rail erosion is still a problem I would guess (albeit less of one than in the 80s). Then there's the issue of power. You pretty much have to design that capacity in from the beginning, as they did with the Zumwalt class. Backfitting it would be tough. And making sure your power mains stay up at all time after you've been hit vs that required to operate a standard gun turret. . .

 

[kriss]

I don't expect 055s to have railguns anytime soon.

I read almost two years ago from a reliable source that PLAN has trouble finding uses for the railgun that could justify its deployment. The gun works, but its utility is limited by its lack of precision because it can only fire dumb projectiles. It's technically very difficult at this juncture to make maneuverable smart projectiles for the railgun and still have the entire system compact enough to fit on a ship. The railgun's adoption by PLAN depends on solving this problem.

Isn't US railgun supposed to fire guided munition? IIRC said munition (HVP) even survive longer than the railgun project as it is repurposed to be fired by conventional artillery. I doubt smart projectiles are incompatible with railgun if they put some effort in it.

 

[Andy1974]

Essentially a railgun is a solution looking for a problem.

They can launch hypersonics, eliminating the need for boosters.

 

[lcloo]

The problem with railgun projectile is that it contains no explosive, and no proximity fuse, also it cannot be precision guided like 155mm explosive rounds. Added to the problem is the faster rate of wear and tear on the gun barrel.

 

[sferrin]

The problem with railgun projectile is that it contains no explosive, and no proximity fuse, also it cannot be precision guided like 155mm explosive rounds. Added to the problem is the faster rate of wear and tear on the gun barrel.

Yes, the rounds BAE and General Atomics were testing were dumb rounds. They don't HAVE to be.

 

[sferrin]

They can launch hypersonics, eliminating the need for boosters.

Yes and no. Sure, the rounds they fire travel hypersonic speeds, so do the rounds of every tank on a battlefield. But neither are something one would consider when discussing, "hypersonic weapons".

 

[Andy1974]

Yes and no. Sure, the rounds they fire travel hypersonic speeds, so do the rounds of every tank on a battlefield. But neither are something one would consider when discussing, "hypersonic weapons".

No, I think they will be launching HGV and HCM with Rail Guns, Global Times already described it the perfect combination of technologies.

 

[56860]

I don't expect 055s to have railguns anytime soon.

I read almost two years ago from a reliable source that PLAN has trouble finding uses for the railgun that could justify its deployment. The gun works, but its utility is limited by its lack of precision because it can only fire dumb projectiles. It's technically very difficult at this juncture to make maneuverable smart projectiles for the railgun and still have the entire system compact enough to fit on a ship. The railgun's adoption by PLAN depends on solving this problem.

There's no use trying to force something that doesn't fit.