STRATJOURNAL

JAN-FEB 2018 ISSUE

Electromagnetic Weapons: A Future Pursued by China
Column: Military Trends
By Moses Isaiah B. Palces

Versatile, far-reaching, and cost-effective; these are the main characteristics of electro-
magnetic weapon systems. When the United States started the research on “railguns”, Commented [FGTJR1]: Started?
and as well as other developments in military weaponry and subsequent technologies, it Commented [MIP2R1]: Revised
was watched by militaries around the world- most especially by China1. However, due to
Commented [FGTJR3]: Reference?
a realignment of a limited defense budget, the US Navy scrapped research on the
Commented [MIP4R3]: Added reference
weapon system and instead moved towards developing the hypervelocity projectile
(HVP), which were to be the railgun’s projectiles- wherein the development of the entire Commented [FGTJR5]: Reference? Are you sure the
electromagnetic weapon system has seen well over half a million dollars in funding2. scrapping was due to budget cuts?

The HVPs were to be fitted onto existing USN weapon systems 3 using traditional Commented [MIP6R5]: Resolved. Realignment of budget
propellants. With the research on electro-magnetic weapons discontinued by the US, led to the development of the HVPs as a cheaper alternative
that developing the entire railgun system.
China sees the development of energy weapons to be a strategic tool for flexing its
military arm in the region. Recently, China has allegedly installed a functional railgun
onboard one of its gray ships.4 With a heightened capacity from conventional cannons,
cheaper operational cost, and multi-role capabilities, China took another step forward in
developing its naval capabilities in securing its expansive national and foreign interests.
Railguns run on a heavy amount of
electricity to fire a shot. They operate by
using an electromagnetic force to propel
hypervelocity projectiles along
conductive rails5 to launch the HVPs.
Such weapon systems are devoid of the
use of gunpowder and other explosives,
significantly reducing the lethality of
ships by omitting the need to carry
explosive material6. In July 2017, the
USN Office of Naval Research (ONR)
announced that the research of the
USN’s electromagnetic railgun was
available for field demonstration.
Electromagnetic weapons were praised
to be a cheaper but more accurate
weapon system for the USN (essentially
a “weaponized meteor strike”7).
With the US Navy originally aiming for railguns to be capable of up to a 200nm combat
radius, it has the capability to eventually replace conventional US weapon systems.
However, it was announced that the US’ research on the railgun was to be dropped in
favor of instead focusing research on HVPs to be fitted on current weapon systems.
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Given the heavy amount of electricity railguns require to operate, this may be a reason
for the realignment of the USN’s ONS research budget8. Further, modern warships may
even lack the supportive capability to fire railguns aboard- given its limited energy
supply to operate life-sustaining facilities such as water purifiers and air conditioning,
and as well as vital operations facilities such as C4ISTAR equipment and combat
capabilities.
As China strengthened their research on electromagnetic weaponry after the US’,
leaked images show that China has had success in mounting a railgun aboard PLAN
Haiyang Shan.9 The landing ship carried a rather large compartment which might be
intended to house the railgun’s massive electrical components. It was initially reported
to be fitted to the PLAN’s Type-055s, China’s biggest guided-missile destroyer, however
the destroyer’s propulsion system and internal design were not compatible with the
railgun, mostly because the railgun might consume a copious amount of energy which
would affect the destroyer’s operational functions 10.
For the Philippine Navy, the notion of development should be geared towards its ability
to operate and to address challenges in the future operating environment. It will have to
consider how it will cope with the fast-paced development of military technology and
other related capabilities. However, the development of a minimum credible defense
must not only take into consideration the necessary weapons systems for future
warfare, but also its international defense and security engagement partners. These
include both traditional and non-traditional partners considering the administration’s
“independent foreign policy”. To this end, as military technology moves toward
electronically and cyber-capable systems, the PN’s development plans must be
targeted with the identified strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, and address the
threats to national security not only in the physical domain, but also in the non-physical
domain, especially in the cyberspace.

ENDNOTES

1
Chan, Minnie. “China Takes a Page from Pentagon with Hi-Tech Weapons Agency.” South China Morning Post, 26
July 2017, www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2104070/chinese-military-sets-hi-tech-
weapons-research-agency.
2
Prigg, Mark. “Is America's Railgun Doomed? 'Superweapon' That Can Shoot Projectiles at Six Times the Speed of
Sound Could Be Abandoned for Cheaper Alternatives.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 3 June 2016,
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3624563/Is-America-s-railgun-doomed-Claims-superweapon-shoot-
projectiles-six-times-speed-sound-abandoned-cheaper-alternatives.html.
3
Gallagher, Sean. “US dropped ball on Navy railgun development-Now China is picking it up.” Ars Technica, 2 Feb.
2018, arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/photos-show-china-preparing-to-test-naval-railgun/.
4
Mizokami, Kyle. “Is China Getting Ready To Test a Railgun?” Popular Mechanics, Popular Mechanics, 1 Feb. 2018,
www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a15957655/china-railgun/.
5
“Rail gun”. Dictionary.com, http://www.dictionary.com/browse/rail-gun
6
McGuirk, Rod. “Greenert praises cheaper laser, electromagnetic guns.” Navy Times, Navy Times, 7 Aug. 2017,
www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2015/02/10/greenert-praises-cheaper-laser-electromagnetic-guns/.
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7
Keller, Jared. “The Pentagon's New Super Weapon Is Basically A Weaponized Meteor Strike.” Task & Purpose, 7
June 2017, taskandpurpose.com/kinetic-bombardment-kep-weaponry/.
8
Keller, Jared. “The Navys Much-Hyped Electromagnetic Railgun May End Up Dead In The Water.” Task & Purpose,
6 Dec. 2017, taskandpurpose.com/navy-electromagnetic-railgun-budget/.
9
Chan, Minnie. “China fires up world first with high-Powered rail gun technology.” South China Morning Post, 6
Feb. 2018, www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2132263/chinas-military-fires-world-first-
revolutionary-rail.
10
Ibid