Exclusive: China Unveils Multi-Barreled Weapon That Outguns US Phalanx Close-In Weapon to Tackle Hypersonic Missiles.

China is reportedly developing what may become the world’s most powerful machine gun, a groundbreaking project designed to counter one of the most formidable challenges in modern warfare: hypersonic weapons. Unveiled as a multi-barreled weapon system under the Metal Storm project, the new Chinese development is said to outgun the U.S. Navy’s Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), offering a high-speed, high-volume solution to intercept and neutralize hypersonic threats. This next-generation weapon is being developed by defense scientists at the North University of China and represents a significant leap in both firepower and technological innovation.
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China's Metal Storm multi-barreled weapon system, designed for integration on both land-based and naval platforms, offers an ultra-high rate of fire to counter advanced aerial threats such as hypersonic missiles. (Picture source: China Social Network)

Unlike traditional machine guns or Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs), the Chinese Metal Storm is engineered to deliver an unparalleled rate of fire—up to 450,000 rounds per minute per barrel. This immense firepower is achieved through a stacked projectile design, in which multiple rounds are loaded in a single barrel and fired sequentially using a contactless, electromagnetic coil ignition system. Each shot is discharged in just 17.5 microseconds, eliminating mechanical limitations and enabling the weapon to respond instantly to high-speed threats.

What sets this system further apart is its use of smart ammunition embedded with miniature sensors and data chips. These allow for real-time tracking of trajectory, velocity, and performance, enhancing both accuracy and system diagnostics. To manage the intense heat and pressure generated by such high firing rates, the Metal Storm incorporates disposable barrels in reloadable magazine units—an innovative solution for continuous operation under extreme conditions.

This concept is not entirely new. It builds upon the legacy of the Australian Metal Storm project developed in the 1990s by inventor Mike O’Dwyer. That system used electronically fired, superposed loads to achieve unmatched firing rates, but it struggled with issues such as heat management and control, leading to its eventual discontinuation. China’s version, however, appears to have overcome these limitations by leveraging modern advancements in materials science, digital control systems, and electromagnetic ignition.

One of the most promising aspects of this weapon is its multi-platform integration potential. The Metal Storm is designed to be adaptable across a variety of platforms, including land-based air defense systems, mobile ground vehicles, and naval warships. This flexibility could allow China to deploy the system across its ground forces and naval fleets, particularly on destroyers and frigates where high-speed threat interception is a growing priority.

The Metal Storm presents a radically different approach compared to existing systems like the U.S. Navy’s Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) or Russia’s Pantsir-S1. The Phalanx, for example, uses a 20mm Gatling gun firing at around 4,500 rounds per minute to intercept incoming missiles and aircraft. It relies on radar and infrared sensors to acquire and track targets but is limited by mechanical constraints and ammunition capacity. Similarly, the Pantsir-S1 combines cannons and missiles to cover a range of aerial threats but is heavily reliant on guided targeting and reload times. In contrast, the Chinese Metal Storm favors a sheer volume-of-fire approach, creating a dense wall of projectiles that could neutralize targets by probability saturation, rather than precision engagement alone.

This doctrine of high-volume, low-cost kinetic interception could be particularly effective against hypersonic threats, which are extremely difficult to track and engage due to their speed, altitude variability, and maneuverability. With speeds exceeding Mach 5, hypersonic missiles offer minimal reaction time for traditional defense systems. Metal Storm’s ultra-rapid fire rate, combined with smart munitions and potential AI integration, could significantly increase the chances of a successful intercept in these critical few seconds.

The development of such a system reflects China’s strategic focus on asymmetric and technological advantages in modern warfare. As other nations—including the United States, Russia, and members of NATO—invest in hypersonic weapons, the race is now equally intense on the defensive side. Directed energy weapons, next-generation radar systems, and AI-enhanced interceptors are all part of the broader response. In this context, China’s Metal Storm may emerge as a uniquely scalable and cost-effective solution for countering high-speed missile threats in the near future.

If successfully deployed, this weapon could redefine short-range air defense doctrine and provide a decisive edge in scenarios where time-to-target is measured in milliseconds. It not only showcases China’s ambition to lead in cutting-edge military technologies but also underscores a shifting paradigm in the way advanced threats are addressed across modern battlefields.