Integrated launch package performance in the cannon-caliber launcher

Abstract

The Cannon-Caliber Electromagnetic Gun (CCEMG) Program is a major effort toward proving the viability of electromagnetic weapons for future use by the Armed Forces. The effort is focused on the successful, system-designed integration of several major components. Crucial to the success of the program are the operational characteristics of the launcher and the integrated launch package (ILP). This paper addresses the launch and flight characteristics, accuracy, and terminal performance of the ILP and subprojectile. The results presented here represent the first known experimental assessment of these parameters obtained from electric gun firings of a tactical flight body over realistic ranges. To date, 39 shots have been fired using a 1.6-MJ capacitor bank located at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL). A wide variety of instrumentation was incorporated to survey transitional, free-flight, and terminal ballistic regimes from the gun muzzle to target impact 222 m downrange. Free-flight aerodynamic data indicated that the round has adequate in-flight stability. Round-to-round dispersion was computed over a wide range of launch velocities based on downrange impact locations and was used to provide estimates of the dispersion at the design launch velocity of 1,850 m/s. A detailed analysis of the transitional ballistic process has been performed to quantify the various contributors to the total launch disturbance. The results indicated that the sabot/armature discard contributes equally with the aerodynamic jump toward target impact dispersion and increases with launch velocity. For the current launcher configuration, the variability of the discard process Is oriented in the vertical direction. Finally, impact data on armor were limited but nonetheless indicate the round is capable of meeting the CCEMG system requirements.