Modelling of a coilgun-based plate launcher for active armour applications

Active armour of military vehicles based on electromagnetic launch of inceptor plates to defeat incoming threats is the topic of this study. A single-stage coil gun, with a novel coil design, which can be described as a flattened stator coil where a plate armature fits inside of it, is numerically simulated. The simulations yielded a plate velocity of almost 200 m/s and with an electric-to-kinetic energy efficiency of 2.5 %. The work performed provides a good base for further investigations into this type of coilgun design.