Launch package mass and pulsed power energy estimation for subcaliber electromagnetic railgun projectiles

A key element in conducting system studies of electromagnetic (EM) railgun launchers for anti-armor applications is the estimation of launch package mass required for firing subcaliber projectiles. The quality of this estimate has a profound influence on the sizing of the launcher and power supply, and yet the relationships between these components do not lend themselves well to linear analysis types of scaling. This paper describes a method of estimating the armature and sabot mass and then extends this estimation process for the pulsed power energy required based on a few launcher and power supply parameters. The results of study with such an estimating tool can be used to improve scaling guidance in system studies where parasitic mass has in the past been assumed to be a constant parameter. A series of examples are shown with a simple round bore launcher based on tungsten penetrators for several penetrations into rolled homogeneous armor, The technique is then extended in a case study to examine velocity trends for an EM launched advanced telescopic projectile.