Defeating the RPG7 threat by using electric power in reactive armour applications
conference paper
Shaped charges are considered to be a big threat. The Dutch army frequently encounters shaped charges like RPG7 while operating in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. Conventional armour offers only limited protection against these types of threats, within the weight restrictions. One possible countermeasure is electric reactive armour (ELRA). This armour system is not yet available, but with the growth potential of the use of electric power it is possible in the future.
ELRA consists of two parallel conducting plates with a certain distance and a voltage difference between them. The plates are mounted on the basic armour of a vehicle. When the tip of the shaped charge jet hits the inner plate after having penetrated the outer plate, it triggers an electric current that starts to flow through it. The current through the jet causes enhanced break up, resulting in a reduced penetration capacity.
The potential of the ELRA system is evaluated with live firings with two types of shaped charges at the Ballistics Research Laboratory of TNO. The visual and electrical measurement results prove the principle of enhanced instability and reduced penetration capacity of a shaped charge jet caused by the supplied electric current.
ELRA consists of two parallel conducting plates with a certain distance and a voltage difference between them. The plates are mounted on the basic armour of a vehicle. When the tip of the shaped charge jet hits the inner plate after having penetrated the outer plate, it triggers an electric current that starts to flow through it. The current through the jet causes enhanced break up, resulting in a reduced penetration capacity.
The potential of the ELRA system is evaluated with live firings with two types of shaped charges at the Ballistics Research Laboratory of TNO. The visual and electrical measurement results prove the principle of enhanced instability and reduced penetration capacity of a shaped charge jet caused by the supplied electric current.
TNO Identifier
183579
Source title
23rd International Symposium on Ballistics, Tarragona, Spain, 16-20 April 2007
Pages
1141-1147
Files
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