Hybrid Power - An Enabling Technology for Future Combat Systems
Abstract
For nearly two decades futuristic weapon systems, including lasers, high power microwave systems, and electric guns, have been in various stages of research and development. Such weapon systems may have potential to substantially increase our capability to defeat enemy forces with significantly less logistics burden. Despite dedicated efforts to study and demonstrate the utility of such weapons and despite many significant advances in the state-of-the-art for some critical technologies, a vast majority of the military community does not project that these weapons will be incorporated into the designs of ground combat platforms in the near future. The major barrier preventing advanced concepts from being weaponized is the lack of compact pulsed power systems required for operating them. In fact the desire for future combat systems to become more mobile, lighter and smaller seems to conflict directly with the desire to utilize advanced weapon systems in new vehicle designs. Pulsed power sources that have been developed for advanced weapons add too much weight and volume to already overstressed mechanical systems if these new systems are incorporated into future combat vehicle concepts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA638531
Entities
People
- Marilyn M. Freeman
- Michael R. Perschbacher
Organizations
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency