Feasibility of a Sustainer Projectile in the 30-mm, 35-mm, and 40-mm Caliber Range

摘要

A sustainer projectile is a projectile which sustains its initial launch velocity while in flight by the use of rocket propulsion to overcome drag. The nomenclature for this type of system in the large calibers is RAP (rocket-assisted projectile). This report, then, does not deal with a new concept but addresses the feasibility of RAP's in the smaller calibers appropriate for air defense, i.e., the 30-40 mm caliber range. The nominal objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of sustainer technology reducing the time of flight to 3 s or less at 3 km. This could be achieved by a 35-mm candidate and a 40-mm candidate; however, the 30 mm is too small to support the necessary propulsion system.