China unleashes world’s first 16-barrel gun to rain hellfire on enemy missiles, drones

To improve its anti-drone warfare and neutralize low-flying rockets, missiles, and helicopters, China has developed a new weapon system that equips a 16-barrel gun.

According to China’s state-run Global Times, the first-of-its-kind weapon system can also effectively counter drone swarms.

This new air defense system is known as the anti-drone swarm and anti-missile barrage weapon system.

16-barrel monster gun system

Yu Bin, the system’s chief designer, spoke in an interview that Global Times reported about the weapon’s firing mechanism.

He said the weapon shoots a “barrage,” identical to firing a wall of ammunition.

The barrage can cover all incoming target positions, effectively intercepting them by moving from a broad area to a precise point.

Yu said that conventional air defense guns  use the concept of “point to point” interception, whereas the new system uses the concept of “plane to point.”

The new concept follows an architecture where multiple air defense guns fire together to raise fire density and probability of interception.

The new weapon is a close-in air defense barrage system equipped with a 16-barrel gun to fire “unique munitions.”

Yu added that this kind of system is not available globally, and it is the world’s first system to intercept aerial threats such as drone swarms.

Global Times reported that the system has a fast reload speed, high fire density, controllable barrage size, outstanding destructive power, and capability to accompany troops in maneuvers.

Air defense weapons

Current air defense weapons struggle to handle drone swarms effectively. They often can’t manage saturation attacks and are not cost-effective.

However, the new barrage weapon system addresses these issues, according to Yu.

This system has successfully demonstrated its ability to shoot down all small drones with a single barrage.

It can also intercept fast air-launched weapons like missiles. In addition, it can counter rockets, mortars, and howitzer shells.

Yu added that while the primary targets for this system are aerial threats like drone swarms, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles, it can also target ground or water surface targets when needed.

The chief designer mentioned that the system is modular and can be installed on trucks, armored vehicles, or warships.

Fu Qianshao, a military expert, told Global Times that this new weapon will be effective and cost-efficient against drone swarms and missiles.

The barrage weapon is appealing for both domestic users and international markets as threats from drones continue to grow, Fu said.

Countering US, Taiwan

The US and Taiwan are working together to fill the Taiwan Strait with tens of thousands of drones.

Along the Taiwan Strait, the US has already started deploying its long-range drones, such as the MQ-4C Triton.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense has ordered 3,500 domestically produced drones to counter China.

In addition, Taiwan has plans to set up a large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) testing facility in Chiayi County to help establish its drone supply chain.

Taiwan’s new defense plan highlights the important role of drones in various military operations.

In the initial defense phase, Taiwan plans to use larger drones, like the MQ-9B and Teng Yun, for ongoing surveillance.

These drones will provide early warnings and support command and control in challenging environments.

During the next phase, focusing on gaining control over coastal areas, the island plans to use smaller drones, such as the Albatross and Chien-Hsiang, for electronic warfare and to turn off coastal sensors.

Finally, in the phase where they secure beach landings, Taiwan will deploy less expensive and easily replaceable drones like the ALTIUS 600M-V and Capricorn.

These drones will conduct precise attacks on enemy forces and provide real-time targeting information to ground troops.

In light of this, China is investing significantly in developing new anti-drone systems, including the recently unveiled anti-drone swarm and anti-missile barrage weapon system.