The development and testing of a 60 mm electrothermal-chemical gun technology demonstrator

Author

Bradley, Martin ; Panek, A. ; VanDrisse, M. ; White, Steven

Author_Institution

United Defense LP, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Volume

31

Issue

1

fYear

1995

Firstpage

394

Lastpage

398

Abstract

A 60 mm electrothermal-chemical (ETC) demonstrator was built and tested as part of the Navy´s ship self defense development effort. The program conducted integrated tests of a new 60 mm rapid fire ETC gun/autoloader, CIWS mount, electric pulse power source, and ETC cartridge. The program has resulted in many advances in ETC propulsion including: reliable rapid fire electrothermal (ET) power transfer through a gun breech; repeatable rapid fire gun/propelling charge interface; and demonstration of ETC propulsion in an automatic gun system. Successful operation of the CIWS mount in an ETC environment has shown that EMI is not a significant design issue. The program has successfully proven that ETC technology is moving beyond the laboratory phase and is applicable to advanced weapon system development.<>

Keywords

electrothermal launchers; military equipment; power supplies to apparatus; pulsed power technology; ships; testing; weapons; 60 mm; CIWS mount; cartridge; demonstration; demonstrator; development; electric pulse power source; electrothermal-chemical gun; gun breech; gun/propelling charge interface; power transfer; propulsion; rapid fire; ship self defense; testing; weapon system; Automatic testing; Electromagnetic interference; Electrothermal effects; Electrothermal launching; Fires; Laboratories; Marine vehicles; Power system reliability; Propulsion; Weapons;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.364655

Filename

364655