A field study of a hypervelocity solid propellant electrothermal 105 mm launcher

The operation of a Solid Propellant Electrothermal Chemical (SPETC) launcher was tested extensively in support of the US Army Space and Strategic Defence Command (USA SSDC) requirement for integrated field tests for a propsed Hypervelocity Weapon System (HVWS). Efforts were undertaken to translate ballistic results obtained earlier with a 105 mm SPETC launcher at Soreq NRC Israel for field use. A 105 mm firing fixture was used in the study. Forty-nine field firings were carried out in the 105 mm launcher without a single failure of the electrothermal fixture. Controlled pressure vs time profiles and velocities in the range of 1800-2030 m/s were obtained at pressures of the order of 450-550 MPa and accelerations of up to 64 kgee. This was achieved using projectile masses from 3.8-5.2 kg and various power pulses up to 1.8 MJ. An ensemble of 14 firing experiments indicates that the SPETC process is highly repeatable. The interior ballistic process is smooth and applicable to high gee sabot separation tests. The SPETC launcher was found to be very reliable, robust and flexible with a high potential for future weaponization.<>