Fieldable Electromagnetic Gun Design

This paper describes the design of an electromagnetic (EM) gun capable of delivering launch packages at 2.5 km/s. The gun design methodology targets four areas where launcher technology must be advanced: efficiency, energy recovery, design robustness, and managing the interfaces while integrating the design with the “system.” System simulations indicate that a 3.2 MA current supplied from a pulse alternator will achieve the design goals. The EM gun design presented features a novel bore cross-section that minimizes bore area while accommodating any round projectile up to 90 mm in diameter. The rail-to-rail spacing is 105 mm. The bore-cross section design is the result of a parameter study that trades EM gun performance against launch package, rail thermal and rail structural risk. The active gun length is 6.0 m and the projected weight including breech, muzzle connections and recoil mechanism is 1,500 kg. (3,300 lb). The structural stiffening mechanism of the gun is based on directional preloading, high modulus sidewall insulators and a lightweight composite overwrap. This same approach was successfully implemented in the Cannon Caliber EM gun. Also, like the Cannon Caliber EM gun, the presented gun design utilizes active liquid cooling. This paper documents EM gun design work performed by UT-CEM, SAIC and General Atomics for a proposal.