China’s capacitor-free coil gun can fire 3,000 projectiles a minute, outpacing rivals

State-owned arms maker China South Industries Group (CSGC) has released footage of its electromagnetic coil gun. Allegedly capable of firing 3,000 rounds per minute, the prototype represents a major technical leap in portable directed-energy weaponry.

Once perfected, the new weapon could play a key role in military and law enforcement applications. A coil gun is a linear motor that uses electromagnets to accelerate a projectile to high velocity.

It’s essentially a type of mass driver in which the projectile is launched by magnetic forces rather than traditional gunpowder or explosives. According to reports, the new Chinese weapon uses lithium-ion batteries instead of conventional capacitors to power the electromagnetic coils.

This weapon debuts just a few years after another Chinese coil gun, the CS/LW21, was unveiled in 2023. Another handheld electromagnetic coil gun, the CS/LW21 was developed by China North Industries Group (Norinco) for riot control and non-lethal use. This weapon uses a nine-stage coil array powered by an internal lithium-ion battery to fire coin-shaped projectiles without traditional gunpowder.

Far surpasses the AK-47

However, the newest coil gun developed by PLA’s Army Engineering University features an unprecedented capacitor-free design that allows for sustained rapid fire, a historical limitation in coil gun development. As per a report in the South China Morning Post, the new weapon is equipped with twenty 1-inch (20mm) long sequential copper coils in a bullpup configuration (similar in appearance to a Belgian P90).

When a steel projectile or armature is accelerated through these coils using carefully timed magnetic pulses, semiconductor switches precisely control power delivery down to nanoseconds. AI-akin timing algorithms then optimize the magnetic acceleration window to minimize energy waste and reverse drag.

Other key features of the gun include special safety fuses to prevent battery overload during 750A current spikes, finite element simulations optimising coil triggers to milliseconds, and heat dissipation engineering that limits the battery’s temperature rise.

During testing, the weapon reportedly fired up to 3,000 rounds per minute (rpm), far surpassing traditional firearms. That is significantly higher than conventional firearms like the AK-47, which fires around 600 rpm. It also benefits from silent firing, no muzzle flash, and adjustable lethality.

From crowd control to militarization

Currently, the test model clocks a projectile velocity of about 282 ft/s (86 m/s), which is fast but modest compared to conventional firearms. Although, it will prove sufficient for non-lethal roles like riot control.

“Continuous high-speed fire deters approaching threats and overwhelms enemy reactions, which is ideal for riot control,” observed the research team led by professor Xiang Hongjun from Army Engineering University. “Other advantages include no muzzle flash, silent operation, and adjustable lethality, making it ideal for ‘covert missions’,” they added.

With scaling and improved battery power, the team is confident the gun could transition to lethal battlefield roles (e.g., drones, automated turrets, or infantry weapons).

If matured and militarized, China could lead the race to deploy next-generation small arms that use electromagnetic propulsion instead of chemical reactions. While not yet a battlefield-ready killer, it hints at a future where silent, ultra-fast electromagnetic projectiles could replace bullets.