Latest news with #Norinco
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
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. 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. 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.
South China Morning Post
18-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Could Brazilian leader Lula's Beijing trip herald greater Chinese defence role in region?
Lula's packed schedule in Beijing on Monday included meetings with a range of business leaders, but one that stood out was his trip to see Chen Defang, president of the state-owned defence giant China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) According to Brazilian media reports, a key focus of the meeting was Norinco's potential acquisition of a stake in Avibras, a financially troubled Brazilian aerospace and defence company. The meeting did not yield any formal agreements but the president's chief of staff Rui Costa said there would not be any resistance to the Chinese firm doing business in Brazil or investing in Avibras, according to Brazilian media reports. Brasil 247 also reported that the government was interested in applying Norinco's expertise in public security technology, including facial recognition systems. Last year Norinco was reported to have submitted a proposal to acquire a 49 per cent stake in the company, Brazil's leading manufacturer of heavy defence systems and the main supplier of missiles and rocket artillery to the country's armed forces.
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Chinese defence firm strikes arms deal with Nigeria, deepening ties with West Africa
Nigeria has struck a major agreement with a leading Chinese defence company to begin local production of military -grade ammunition, deepening the West African nation's military ties with Beijing. The deal, signed during Nigerian Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle's visit to China earlier this month, covers the construction of ammunition production lines, maintenance and upgrades of military hardware , servicing of battle tanks and military engineering services. It also involves technology transfers and training for Nigerian defence personnel. While Nigeria's Defence Ministry did not name the Chinese company in its May 6 statement, photos showed officials reviewing equipment from China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco), a state-owned arms manufacturer. A high-level Norinco delegation visited Nigeria in March to discuss local arms production through collaboration and technology transfers. The partnership marks the latest step in Nigeria's growing military cooperation with China, which began in the mid-2010s when Nigeria turned to Beijing after failing to secure needed defence equipment from the Obama administration during the peak of Boko Haram's insurgency.
Economic Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Pakistan Army deploys Chinese artillery closer to LoC & IB, indicate reports
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: A day after ' Operation Sindoor ' in which more than 100 terrorists were neutralised by security forces, multiple reports have now emerged pointing to the deployment of Chinese artillery, namely SH-15, by the Pakistan Army, security officials aware of the matter said. The systems have been deployed closer to the International Border and Line of Control (LoC), they to reports, the SH-15 was inducted by the People Liberation Army between 2018 and 2020 and has since been exported to several countries, including Pakistan, which signed a contract in 2019 for the delivery of 236 SH-15 artillery systems. The SH-15 systems have a wide range of ammunition, including precision-guided munition developed by Norinco that can achieve a maximum range of 53 km with rocket-assisted projectiles. Chinese defence company, Norinco, has been banned in United Army had, in the past too, procured Chinese equipment such as satellite phones and provided them to terrorists in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) which were later found to be active in Jammu and Kashmir. Several Chinese equipment such as satellite phones and Chinese apps and navigation systems were being used by foreign militants in Jammu and Kashmir , added another official. The fresh assessment carried out by various security agencies has pegged the number of foreign militants in the border state to more than 75 militants. The presence of foreign militants, despite the Army and Border Security Force (BSF) claiming "zero infiltration", has been a cause of concern among the security the active foreign militants, most of them are affiliated to LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen . All the three groups have been banned by the Union home ministry under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967."Lashkar has the largest presence of militants in the valley and its offshoot The Resistance Force (TRF) has been involved in several attacks on security personnel and civilians in the past. It came into existence in 2019 and has been banned under UAPA," explained another have so far not ruled out the involvement of the same group from The Resistance Force (TRF) which had been earlier involved in the 2023 Dangri attack and the 2024 Reasi bus attack. They however said that there is no clear breakthrough into the identity of attackers involved in the Pahalgam attack."TRF, which later backtracked their claim on the Pahalgam attack, seems to have done so due to pressure from Pakistan. They are very much active online and their identity will be revealed soon," explained an official.
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Sudan: Advanced Chinese weaponry provided by United Arab Emirates (UAE) identified in breach of arms embargo
Norinco Group guided bombs and howitzers used in attacks Weapons almost certainly provided by UAE to RSF in Sudan 'Civilians are being killed and injured because of global inaction' – Brian Castner Sophisticated Chinese weaponry, re-exported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been captured in Khartoum, as well as used in Darfur in a blatant breach of the existing UN arms embargo, Amnesty International said following a new investigation. By analysing pictures and videos showing the aftermath of attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Amnesty International identified Chinese GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers. This is the first time GB50A bombs have been documented in active use in any conflict worldwide. The weapons are manufactured by the Norinco Group, also known as China North Industries Group Corporation Limited, a Chinese state-owned defence corporation. The weapons were almost certainly re-exported to Sudan by the UAE. 'This is clear evidence that sophisticated Chinese-made guided bombs and howitzers have been used in Sudan,' said Brian Castner, Head of Crisis Research at Amnesty International. 'The presence of recently manufactured Chinese bombs in North Darfur is a clear violation of the arms embargo by the UAE. Our documentation of AH-4 howitzers in Khartoum further strengthens a growing body of evidence showing extensive UAE support to the RSF, in violation of international law. 'It is shameful that the UN Security Council is failing to implement the existing arms embargo on Darfur, and not heeding calls to extend it to all of Sudan. Civilians are being killed and injured because of global inaction, while the UAE continues to flout the embargo. The UAE must halt its arms transfers to the RSF immediately. Until they do, all international arms transfer to the UAE must also stop.' "This is clear evidence that sophisticated Chinese-made guided bombs and howitzers have been used in Sudan." Brian Castner, Head of Crisis Research at Amnesty International China, as state party to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), must take urgent measures to prevent the diversion of arms to Sudan. By continuing to supply such weapons to the UAE – a state which has a long track record of supplying arms to conflict where war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law are regularly occurring – China risks indirectly supplying weapons to the conflict. The UAE, as a signatory to the ATT, has consistently undermined its object and purpose. All states should stop transferring arms to the UAE until such time that the UAE can guarantee that none will be reexported to Sudan or to other embargoed destinations, and that all its past breaches of the UNSC arms embargoes are thoroughly investigated and perpetrators brought to account. Last year, Amnesty International's briefing New Weapons Fuelling the Sudan Conflict documented how recently manufactured weapons from countries including China, Russia, Türkiye and the UAE had been transferred into and around Sudan, often in flagrant breach of the existing Darfur arms embargo. Amnesty International also revealed how French-manufactured weapons systems were being used on the battlefield in Sudan. Amnesty International sent letters to Norinco Group regarding the findings on 18 April 2025. At the time of publication, no response had been received. Weapons in Darfur and Khartoum On the night of 9 March 2025, the RSF launched a drone strike near al-Malha town in North Darfur, possibly targeting Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Local media and a Sudanese human rights organisation reported that 13 people were killed and several more injured. Amnesty International spoke with four family members of witnesses of the strike. However, Amnesty International was unable to speak to the witnesses themselves because, according to the family members, their relatives were community leaders who were targeted and killed by the RSF after their capture of al-Malha. Amnesty International was unable to confirm this. By analysing digital evidence of the remnants of the bomb used in the strike, Amnesty International identified the fragments as belonging to a Norinco GB50A guided aerial bomb. Markings on the fragments indicate the bomb was manufactured in 2024. These bombs can be dropped from various Chinese drones, including Wing Loong II and FeiHong-95, both of which are used only by the RSF in Sudan, and have been provided by the UAE. Bomb fragments in the photographs show distinctive fins and brackets on the tail section that identified this previously undocumented weapon. The well-preserved markings also match reference images of the GB50A, including the font, colour and stencil style. In another case, videos on social media show the SAF seizing weapons left by the RSF after they were forced to retreat from Khartoum on 27 and 28 March 2025. Amnesty International identified one of the weapons in the video as a Norinco 155mm AH-4 howitzer. The only country in the world that has imported AH-4 howitzers from China is the UAE. The transfer happened in 2019, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. This indicates the UAE is continuing to provide support to the RSF, following similar findings by the United Nations ' Panel of Experts on Sudan and other reports. Amnesty International has previously published evidence of arms embargo violations by the UAE, including similarly providing Wing Loong drones in Libya. Norinco Group has a responsibility to respect human rights throughout its global operations, which requires the company to conduct human rights due diligence throughout its entire value chain to identify, prevent, and mitigate any actual or potential involvement in human rights abuses. Norinco Group must urgently review all past, present and future arms exports to the UAE, and also cease arms exports to the UAE if it does not stop diverting arms to Sudan. Background The conflict between the SAF and RSF that has escalated since April 2023 continues to devastate Sudan. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and many more injured. Amnesty International's recent investigation found the RSF had committed widespread sexual violence – including rape, gang rape and sexual slavery – against women and girls, amounting to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. Amnesty International has also launched a global petition urging the UN Security Council to extend the existing arms embargo beyond Darfur to the rest of Sudan. This is part of Amnesty International's campaign advocating for protection of civilians in Sudan, and calling for accountability for those who have committed atrocities against civilians. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.
