BALLISTIC RAIL GUN – SOFT RECOVERY TECHNIQUE

Abstract

The ARDC 155mm Ballistic Rail Gun Test Facility permits the soft recovery of a test projectile and its payload after subjection to an actual gun launch environment. High G hardening and testing of various electronic and mechanical components can be conducted by use of this system. This paper will discuss the conception, operation and reliability of the Ballistic Rail Gun, and the advantages and limitations of its use in qualification of components. Also discussed will be the development of a novel radar technique to determine muzzle velocity for Rail Gun tests, and a separate telemetry system for characterizing in-bore (acceleration) and in-rail (deceleration) environments.