China has miniaturised the technology used to make electromagnetic cannons to develop a handheld coil gun, according to state media.
The weapon was designed for stealth, non-lethal operations and law enforcement, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday, adding that it could fire between 1,000 and 2,000 projectiles a minute and penetrate wooden boards from dozens of metres away.
Its power levels can also be altered, meaning that on lower settings there is less chance it will kill someone and instead disable them.
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The lightweight electromagnetic launcher has a barrel just 30cm (12 inches) long and can be easily held by one hand.
It is also fitted with a laser pointer to improve accuracy, according to its developer, state-owned China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC).
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The weapon, also known as a Gauss gun, employs electromagnetic coils to fire metal projectiles at high speeds. Unlike conventional firearms, the electromagnetic weapon produces no muzzle flash or smoke, makes very little noise and does not discard shell casings – all of which make it ideal for stealth operations.
Saturday’s report from CCTV featured a model that had been upgraded from a test version developed last year.
