Launching tactically configured solid armature projectiles from large and medium calibre railguns - Results from the DRA test programme

One of the main thrusts of the United Kingdom EM gun programme is to prove the feasibility of accurate hypervelocity flight of projectiles launched from an EM gun. Several notable successes have been achieved in pursuit of this goal. To date DRA has carried out almost 70 large and medium calibre solid armature experiments using 40mm and 90mm round bore railguns. With one or two exceptions all firings have employed monolithic aluminium alloy armatures, the majority in base-push configuration So far, approximately half of the shots have been full tactical packages with discarding sabots and long rod sub-projectiles flown over range. This paper presents results from these tactical package firings and observations on armature performance based on analysis of shot data and recovered specimens. Other gun issues that may be important to any future implementation of EML technology in a weapons system are also discussed.