United Kingdom EM gun programme

The authors review the progress in the RARDE (Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment) electromagnetic gun (REMGUN) program. They cover research on both railgun and LIA (linear induction accelerator) technology, including work on modeling, projectile/barrel interactions armatures, switching, and instrumentation. They also describe the major research facilities. Progress is reported in the identification and development of single-shot switches, integrated switch/barrel concepts, armatures and pulse power supplies as well as the integration of railgun components. LIA research has concentrated on launcher design and projectile/barrel interactions, highlighting the problems of pulse power systems for this form of electromagnetic launcher.<
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