Status and results of the German R&D program on ETC technologies

Due to its limited electrical energy requirements the technology of ETC guns has been investigated during the last years with high priority. It is the goal to provide a future main battle tank gun with increased firepower for integration into the next generation of combat fighting vehicles. Current R&D programs result in a demonstration of the interior ballistic performance of the different ETC concepts, 120 mm ETC demonstrators are used to perform this demonstration. The paper gives an overview on the latest ETC technology approaches in the framework of the German R&D program. Basic investigations led to the definition of different ETC concepts for the realization of electrothermal plasma ignition methods and electrothermal combustion control of ETC tailored propellants and charge designs. The most promising concepts were validated in a 105 mm ETC gun set-up. Theoretical simulations of the interior ballistic performance of these concepts are performed. Based on the results of the 105 mm firings and of the interior ballistic simulations a 120 mm ETC cartridge was designed and investigated experimentally.