On the feasibility of mounting an electrothermal chemical gun system on a combat vehicle

The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has completed a study on the feasibility of mounting an electrothermal chemical (ETC) gun pulser on an M1 Abrams main battle tank, as a possible variant for the next generation of this weapon system. The ETC gun will provide enhanced lethality without increasing weapon caliber or propellant requirement. This was part of a larger study involving other US Army research elements. The ARL approach examined capacitor and inductor based energy storage and pulse forming networks. With adequate prime electrical power, available from a thermal engine driven generator, the above systems were smaller in size than alternative rotating machine based systems, and can sustain rapid fire as long as they have projectiles. These systems also have the advantage of modular construction, allowing the components to be placed wherever there is space available in the tank. This resulted in a majority of the system being capable of being placed in the tank turret, which had the advantage of an easy coupling of the gun pulser to the gun breech. This system passes continuous charging power through slip rings to the pulse forming network in a fully rotatable turret, avoiding the dubious practice of passing pulse power through sliding contacts.