Overview of ETC program in Korea

Electromagnetic launcher (EML) technology had been investigated in South Korea since 1989. Muzzle velocities up to 4.3 km/sec were obtained using 1.3 g projectiles in 1991. Since 1992, the Korea Program has concentrated on electrothermochemical (ETC) technology instead of EML technology. A 20 mm caliber ETC gun was designed and set up together with the pulse-forming network of a capacitor bank. A 107 g projectile was accelerated to up to 1.24 km/sec. The new Korea ETC program is established to investigate ETC launchers, compulsators, power switches, etc. The whole program will be performed by the Agency for Defense Development with the help of some Korean institutes and industries.