Overview on the German R&D Programs on ETC Gun Technologies for Main Battletank Weaponization
Abstract
In order to improve the performance of large caliber guns for main battlefield tank applications a wide range of R&D programs have been performed in Germany on electric and electrically supported barrel guns since 1980. In the beginning pure electric gun technologies were investigated including rail, coil and electrothermal acceleration methods. A large caliber 105 mm electrothermal gun demonstrator supplied by a 30 MJ capacitive pulsed power supply system was introduced in 1995. Muzzle velocities up to 2.4 km/s were obtained with this set-up resulting in muzzle energies up to 5.8 MJ. The missing perspective on solving the energy density requirements of the pulsed power supply technology for a system realization led to the termination of these programs in the beginning of 1996. Due to its limited electrical energy requirements the technology of ETC guns has been investigated during the last years with high priority. It is the goal to provide a future main battle tank gun with increased firepower for integration into the next generation of combat fighting vehicles. Current R&D programmes result in a demonstration of the interior ballistic performance of the different ETC concepts. 120 mm ETC demonstrators are used to perform this demonstration. The presentation gives a short briefing on the results of the former investigations on pure electric guns and introduces the background for deciding to terminate these efforts. In the following an overview on the R&D Structure of the German programs on ETC and its related technology fields is presented. Basic investigations led to the definition of different ETC concepts for the realization of electrothermal plasma ignition methods and electrothermal combustion control of ETC tailored propellants and charge designs. Based on the results of 105 mm firings and of interior ballistic simulations a 120 mm ETC cartridge was designed and investigated experimentally. First 120 mm firing results will be given.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 26, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADP012452
Entities
People
- Thomas H. Weise