China has recently unveiled a cutting-edge anti-drone interception system known as the “Bullet Curtain,” a development that could redefine short-range air defence strategies. Designed to counter one of the most challenging threats in modern warfare—low-flying drones—the Bullet Curtain represents a shift in Chinese military doctrine towards rapid-response, high-volume defensive platforms. This approach focuses on overwhelming firepower rather than selective engagement, potentially marking a turning point in the evolution of modern air defence technologies.
China has unveiled a new multi-barrel interception weapon known as the “Bullet Curtain,” also referred to as the “Metal Storm.” At its core, the system is designed to form a dense wall of high-velocity projectiles, primarily to intercept and destroy drones flying at low altitudes. Some assessments suggest, however, that its capabilities could extend further-potentially enabling it to engage other aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, mortar shells, and even hypersonic missiles travelling at speeds exceeding Mach 7. If proven, this would mark a significant strategic shift in the global race to defend naval vessels against ultra-fast threats.
Technically, the Bullet Curtain employs preloaded barrels combined with electronic ignition technology, allowing it to coordinate complex, high-speed volleys of ammunition in microseconds. Its most notable feature lies in its tightly packed array of sixteen 35mm barrels, engineered to deliver an unprecedented firing rate of around 400,000 rounds per minute. This figure surpasses the rate of existing Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), such as China’s Type 1130, by roughly tenfold.
The system fires programmable 35mm rounds that detonate mid-air, dispersing hundreds of smaller projectiles. This creates a wide defensive curtain capable of neutralising multiple simultaneous threats within its target area. Beyond raw firepower, the system also integrates adaptive fire control, radar, and optical detection technologies, enabling rapid response to shifting threat environments.
Historically, the Bullet Curtain traces its conceptual roots to Australia’s “Metal Storm” project, launched in the 1990s by inventor Mike O’Dwyer. The Australian project aimed to achieve firing rates approaching one million rounds per minute using electronically ignited, stacked projectiles in multiple barrels. Despite the ambitious vision, the company ultimately failed to deliver on its goals and declared bankruptcy in 2012.
Nevertheless, the underlying idea attracted growing interest from both the United States and China. It appears that China’s state-owned defence giant Norinco succeeded where others did not—reviving and significantly improving the concept. According to several Western reports, the new Chinese system offers roughly ten times greater firing speed and tactical flexibility compared to the Australian prototype. Moreover, it is designed for integration across diverse platforms, including naval vessels, armoured vehicles, and fixed military installations. This versatility enables rapid deployment across different branches of the Chinese military and alignment with varied operational environments.
Further reports suggest that the Bullet Curtain has moved beyond the prototype stage and has now entered mass production. This development implies that the Chinese military could soon deploy it on a wider scale. Some estimates also indicate that Beijing is preparing to export the system soon, potentially extending its influence in the global defence market.
A Shift to ‘Plane-to-Point’ Interception
Traditional air defence systems typically focus on intercepting individual incoming threats with precision-guided missiles. By contrast, the Bullet Curtain employs a “plane-to-point” approach: rather than targeting each drone separately, it floods the predicted flight path with concentrated firepower, effectively erecting a lethal barrier.
This method is particularly effective against emerging threats like drone swarms and hypersonic missiles that can overwhelm conventional point-defence systems. Moreover, the system’s innovative reloading mechanism—using disposable, preloaded barrels that can be swapped within seconds—drastically reduces downtime, enabling sustained defensive fire during prolonged engagements.
This evolution reflects a broader shift in China’s defensive doctrine. The Bullet Curtain embodies a strategic belief that, despite their effectiveness, missile-based interception systems cannot reliably sustain defence against prolonged and large-scale attacks—particularly given the high cost of interceptor missiles and their finite supply. By contrast, an artillery-based system can deliver sustained, high-volume fire at significantly lower cost, making it better suited to countering modern saturation tactics.
Consequently, the Bullet Curtain stands out as the world’s first dedicated short-range anti-drone system capable of comprehensive destruction of drone swarms within a very short timeframe. Its exceptional rate of fire, combined with its rapid reloading capability, enables continuous engagement of multiple threats without interruption.
Some assessments have compared the Chinese Bullet Curtain system to the American Phalanx CIWS—a fully automated system originally designed to defend against close-in threats. The Phalanx also employs a “plane-to-target” interception approach, using radar to detect and track incoming targets and engaging them with a rapid-fire rotary cannon capable of firing around 4,500 rounds per minute. However, unlike the Bullet Curtain, the Phalanx does not create a continuous wall of projectiles and has shown limited effectiveness against emerging challenges such as large drone swarms.
How is the Bullet Curtain Different from Traditional Anti-Drone Systems?
One of the key distinctions of China’s Bullet Curtain system lies in its compatibility with various types of 35mm munitions, including programmable AHEAD rounds. These rounds can be set to detonate at precise points in space, releasing sub-projectiles that greatly improve the likelihood of striking smaller, faster, and more agile targets such as drones. This capability makes the system a particularly formidable deterrent against high-speed and unmanned threats.
The rise of drone warfare in recent years—most notably seen in the Russia–Ukraine conflict—has highlighted the urgent need for more effective counter-drone solutions. This war has demonstrated the limited effectiveness of traditional electronic warfare measures, as both Moscow and Kyiv have developed alternative methods to counter electronic jamming, including drones that operate via fibre-optic cables. Learning from these developments, China aims to pre-empt emerging defence technologies by adopting a more robust kinetic interception system.
Similar strategic drivers exist in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly around the Taiwan Strait. On one side, the United States has bolstered its presence through the deployment of advanced drones such as the MQ-4C Triton and MQ-9B Reaper. Simulations conducted by the U.S. Air Force and the RAND Corporation have underscored the decisive role of drone swarms in Taiwan’s defence scenarios, where drones function as sensors, jammers, and tools to deplete China’s air defences, paving the way for manned aircraft like the F-35 to operate with greater freedom.
On the other side, Taiwan itself is accelerating efforts to enhance its asymmetric warfare capabilities. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defence has announced plans to produce around 3,500 locally manufactured drones, and Taipei is setting up a dedicated drone testing and development centre in Chiayi County to speed up innovation and secure the supply chain. Within this complex and evolving landscape, the Bullet Curtain offers China a strategic edge by providing rapid, area-wide neutralisation of drone swarms and other highly manoeuvrable aerial threats.
To illustrate the difference, some analysts have compared traditional air defence systems and the Bullet Curtain to trying to hit a fly: conventional systems resemble throwing a series of stones directly at the fly, while the Bullet Curtain’s approach is more like striking with a fly swatter that covers the entire area where the fly might move—creating a protective umbrella capable of countering concentrated attacks effectively.
Redefining the Traditional Concept of Air Defence
The new Chinese system has the potential to reshape conventional air defence doctrines. Unlike traditional systems that rely on interceptor missiles to eliminate successive threats—a strategy that waves of drones or missile barrages can severely strain—the Bullet Curtain adopts the principle of “dense fire” rather than selective “precision strikes.” By saturating the airspace with an overwhelming volume of firepower, it prevents threats from entering the protected zone at all.
Many Western reports predict that future wars will involve large-scale, coordinated use of thousands of drones targeting a single objective. Such tactics would make it difficult, if not impossible, for conventional air defences to intercept all attacking drones.
Yet intercepting drones poses a complex challenge for artillery-based systems. While traditional air defences have demonstrated moderate effectiveness against single drones, China’s existing systems—such as the HQ-17 surface-to-air missile and PGZ-95 anti-aircraft artillery—are capable of targeting specific types of unmanned aerial vehicles. However, they face significant challenges when dealing with low-flying drones. Even if some drones are neutralised, others would likely penetrate the defences and strike their targets. Against this backdrop, the Bullet Curtain represents a qualitative leap forward in counter-swarm drone technology.
Practically, the system could provide short-range air defence for destroyers, frigates, and other surface vessels in contested maritime areas. With an effective range of approximately 3–5 kilometres, it is especially suitable for intercepting highly manoeuvrable threats that can evade long-range missile systems, as well as sea-skimming missiles that exploit low-altitude flight paths—a tactic increasingly used to bypass traditional defences. By doing so, the Bullet Curtain creates a short-range protective zone that allows ships to counter multiple close-in threats simultaneously.
Estimates also suggest that the system could be integrated into mobile ground units and fixed installations such as military bases and strategic infrastructure, creating a broader, more integrated defensive network. This capability could shift regional power balances in the Indo-Pacific and have wider implications for future conflicts and offensive doctrines among competing powers.
Economically, the Bullet Curtain offers a cost-effective solution to the increasingly complex and expensive problem of countering drones. Instead of relying on costly interceptor missiles, it uses relatively inexpensive ammunition. This affordability could make the system attractive for export, particularly to developing countries seeking alternatives to expensive conventional air defence systems.
Nevertheless, the system faces key challenges. The high rate of ammunition consumption, for example, could impose significant logistical burdens during prolonged engagements. Additionally, its effectiveness is mainly concentrated against low- and medium-altitude aerial threats. As such, it is likely to be deployed as part of a layered air defence architecture rather than as a standalone system, to maximise overall effectiveness.
In summary, the Bullet Curtain aligns with China’s growing focus on smart warfare and the integration of advanced combat technologies to prepare for future conflicts. It reflects Beijing’s ambition to lead the global technological race and embed these innovations within its broader defence strategy aimed at establishing itself as a major international power. Ultimately, the system could redefine existing air defence models and force other nations to reconsider their offensive strategies. ●
By: Adnan Mousa (Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University)
