Electromagnetic Armour: An Overview (Elektromagnetiskt Pansar: En Oeversikt)

摘要

The penetrating powers of shaped charge jets and modern long rod projectiles make211u001eit very impractical to fully protect an armoured vehicle by just increasing the 211u001earmour thickness, since the weight and volume needed will severely hamper the 211u001emanoeuverability and mobility of the vehicle. Among the complementary modes of 211u001eprotection that have been suggested, the use of electromagnetic energy is being 211u001einvestigated by several researchers. Considering the ongoing development of more 211u001ecompact electric power supplies and capacitor banks, it is reasonable to assume 211u001ethat future battle tanks and armoured vehicles will be able to carry storage of 211u001eelectric energy that today would occupy an unrealistically large portion of the 211u001evehicle. This report is primarily a review of some open literature in the area of 211u001eelectromagnetic armour. Three major principles for electromagnetic armour can be 211u001eidentified: (1) ejection of protective plates using electromagnets, (2) 211u001eintroduction of disrupting instabilities by passing an electric current through a 211u001epenetrator, and (3) use of electromagnetic fields without mechanical contact. Of 211u001ethese, the electromagnetic ejection of armour plate, and introduction of 211u001emagnetomechanical instabilities using strong electric currents seem most 211u001erealistic. The second concept appears to have attracted the greatest interest by 211u001eresearchers and is the main topic in this report. The report includes a 211u001ecomparison of the estimated energies required for disturbance or destruction of a 211u001eprojectile using the three types of electromagnetic armour.