Distributed energy store (DES) railgun development

Over the past four years LTV Aerospace and Defense Company [LTVAD) has operated on a regular basis two high-energy electromagnetic (EM) railguns with over 200 shots, 100 firings since the last EM launcher technology symposium, making this to our knowledge the most productive launcher laboratory in the nation. The development work has focused on launcher efficiency, projectile compatibility, and barrel material life improvements. The 20 mm DES launcher has also become known as a workhorse for hypervelocity kinetic energy lethality experiments, operating in the velocity range of 2 to 6 km/sec. This paper describes the recent LTVAD EM Propulsion Laboratory developments and improvements with the DES launcher, power supply, controls, instrumentation, and ballistic range. Results on DES launcher efficiency optimization with factors greater than 2 over breech fed railguns are presented. Methods of tailoring the launch acceleration force and test results are discussed.