Experimental progress at the ARDEC electromagnetic launch facility

The Electric Gun Laboratory at the US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) was established in 1981 as the Army's center for test and development of electric propulsion. The lab has grown into a center of electromagnetic propulsion research equipped with a 20 MJ homopolar generator, a 250 kJ capacitor bank, several electromagnetic launchers, and advanced diagnostics. The experiment work is supported by analytical research including railgun analysis and the investigation of segmented projectiles. The authors present the history of the laboratory, describe research in progress, and outline future plans.<
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