Summary of HEDRC-IVTAN railgun investigations

The physical problems that determine the efficiency of plasma armature railguns (PARG) are discussed. It is shown that the problems arising from both the restricted ability of the PARG barrel to transfer electromagnetic (EM) energy from the breech to projectile and viscous drag are dominating. EM hypervelocity PARG operating regime may be practically effected and achieved velocity limit may be overcome by the way of applying better railgun (RG) electric schemes, optimizing RG bore dimensions, obtaining so called current-sheath mode of plasma dynamic discharge (PDD) at the stage of its initiation, providing RG energizing required both for the current and for the electric power as well as appropriate time dependence and using some other means.