The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is investigating electromagnetic (EM) guns for the next generation combat vehicle providing greater range, accuracy, and survivability without the use of propellant. Electromagnetic guns can provide high-fidelity controlled muzzle velocity, which removes the largest source of error in the ballistic terminal phase. A two-year program was initiated in 2005 to design a coilgun and a railgun to launch an existing mortar round with an EM armature in laboratory conditions at speeds to increase range beyond current capabilities. The laboratory induction coilgun discussed in this paper consists of solenoidal coils constrained in a gun barrel structure connected to a gun mount with recoil mechanisms. This mount is similar to what will be needed for future applications and capable of firing at variable elevation angles. The coils are energized sequentially from individual capacitor banks controlled by a firing system that senses the projectile position and velocity for precise muzzle velocity. The laboratory test range includes diagnostics to determine projectile integrity in free-flight before impacting a steel catch box. This paper describes a laboratory coilgun system whose requirements are based on the Future Combat System Mortar Vehicle for indirect fire applications. Minimal adaptation has been necessary to existing mortar rounds with the armature and support structure necessary for EM coilgun launch. High magnetic field coils have been designed and tested at stress levels anticipated during launch. Capacitor bank modules currently in fabrication and test are utilizing existing capacitors, but investigating new ideas in commercial components for switches, resistors and bus-work to lower cost. The firing system, which includes a projectile-sensing 94 GHz radar triggers the capacitor banks for optimal performance and precise muzzle velocity control, is also described..*Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.