Chinese scientists have developed a unique weapon designed for drones, advancing the technology of unmanned warfare. The weapon fires 7.62mm bullets like the AK-47, with a velocity of 740 to 900 meters per second (2,427 to 2,952 feet per second) at 10 meters, matching the power of the AK-47.
The most important development of this weapon is that it is not there, it is described as simple as pressing the keyboard. This allows even consumer drones or toy robot dogs to handle and shoot guns easily, according to project scientists and engineers.
From dropping a grenade to actually shooting
Smaller drones are limited to dropping grenades or mortar bombs on battlefields like the one in Ukraine. Even the most advanced unmanned platforms and highly developed drones struggle to handle the recoil of machine gun fire, reducing their maneuverability and flexibility. A new gun developed by Professor Liu Pengzhan’s team at North University of China’s school of mechanics and electronics aims to solve these issues, the South China Morning Post reported.
By drilling a hole in the back of the gun, the group discovered that they could release the shock gas from the gun’s explosion. To keep the bullet moving, they created a new design with a strong seal on the back and inside the electric induction chip.
When the command to fire is given, the ignition chip explodes, releasing the bullet. As the pressure rises, it breaks the membrane and penetrates into the cavity, reducing the recovery and maintaining a high mass velocity.
According to the researchers, the gun features a simple structure and low cost of production, it only needs a coil in the bottle to destroy the chip, which is protected by high-temperature and high-resistance ceramic.
The creation of a new weapon passes many tests
The new weapon design, developed by a team at China’s North University with help from military engineers, has proven effective in several tests. Details of the project were released this month in the Acta Armamentariipeer-reviewed academic journal, where Liu’s team highlighted the creative success in overcoming major challenges in unmanned warfare.
During the test, the gun was suspended in the air and fired, and its front-to-back movement was only 1.8cm, indicating its low range.
China has gained a huge advantage through its industrial capabilities in developing such weapons. However, in response to growing concerns about the misuse of its technology and products, Beijing recently added dual-use drone products and related technologies to its exports.
Also, the North University of China has proven to be an important research center in the development of advanced weapons designs, with collaboration between university academics and engineers from various Chinese military industrial enterprises playing an important role in the development of the weapons industry.