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China proposes 60-ton nuclear-powered tank with railgun
Chinese researchers from the Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group and the Beijing Institute of Technology have unveiled a long-term concept for a 60-ton combat vehicle powered by a compact nuclear reactor. The design, detailed in the scientific journal Acta Armamentarii, features a 10 MW modular nuclear reactor and a 50 MJ electromagnetic railgun.
If realized, the railgun could theoretically accelerate projectiles to 3.5 km/s, enabling a strike range of approximately 450 kilometers. The development is proposed in three phases. The first phase involves a diesel-powered version with a 10 MJ railgun and a 150 km range. The second phase aims to increase railgun energy to 20 MJ for a 300 km range. The final phase, projected for after 2045, replaces the diesel engine with a nuclear reactor using lead-bismuth alloy cooling.
Experts note significant engineering challenges, including heat dissipation from the reactor, radiation shielding, and the safety implications of using nuclear power in a combat vehicle. Some researchers suggest that an unmanned, autonomous design could mitigate risks to crew members.
Entities
Acta Armamentarii · Beijing Institute of Technology · China · Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The development of the vehicle is structured into three distinct phases. opserver.mk · okdiario.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The initial phase involves a diesel-powered version with a 10 MJ railgun and a 150 km range. opserver.mk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The proposed nuclear reactor would utilize lead-bismuth alloy cooling to produce 10 MW of thermal energy. opserver.mk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The concept was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Acta Armamentarii in June 2026. news.republika.co.id · dziennik-polityczny.com · wiadomosci.onet.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] The proposed vehicle is a 60-ton tank featuring a 10 MW compact nuclear reactor and a 50 MJ electromagnetic railgun. opserver.mk · news.republika.co.id · okdiario.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The railgun could theoretically accelerate projectiles to 3.5 km/s, achieving a range of approximately 450 km. opserver.mk · news.republika.co.id · okdiario.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The nuclear-powered version is planned for the final phase of development, scheduled after 2045. opserver.mk · news.republika.co.id · wiadomosci.onet.pl
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The research was conducted by teams from Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group and the Beijing Institute of Technology. news.republika.co.id