Integrating electromagnetic launchers on ships

Abstract

Naval combatant ships of the future will have high power electrically powered weapons systems, including electromagnetic launchers. Integrating high power electric gun systems into ships poses unique issues that ship designers have not faced before. These issues must be identified and addressed early in the conceptual design stage for successful development and integration of high power electric gun systems into ships. While the most obvious integration issues are physical (location and interfacing of the electric gun subsystems), the most difficult issues are probably associated with integration into the operation of the ship and ensuring the survivability of the ship. The high power and energy demand of the gun system prohibit a separate electrical system, dedicated to the weapon. The weapon will have to be integrated into, and share, the electrical system that supplies propulsion and ship service power. Stable ship operation and survivability then hinge on maintaining power quality to critical loads, surviving battle damage, and managing the power losses (signature) while providing the high, transient power required by the weapon.