Electrothermal-chemical research at Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Israel

An overview of the electro-thermal-chemical launcher (ETC) research program at the Propulsion Physics Laboratory, Soreq NRC, Israel is presented. The main avenue explored is a detailed study of solid propellant ETC (SPETC) performance and optimization. A better knowledge of the physical phenomena taking place inside the device and in parallel efforts to tackle the engineering aspects of specific weapon systems based on the SPETC concept. Theoretical and experimental tools have been developed. Permanent efforts toward developing optimal and efficient components for such systems are invested. A second avenue is the design and the construction of a small-caliber ETC demonstrator, as an answer for present military demands for urban combat conditions. All system options are dealt with including a novel inductive pulse power supply.