A Propulsion System Comparison Study for the 120-mm Anti-Armor Cannon

Abstract : We explore the effect of advanced propulsion technologies on the performance potential of a 120-mm high performance cannon. The current 120-mm gun using conventional granular propellant operates at a peak pressure of 505 MPa and accelerates a 7.1 kg saboted projectile with a kinetic energy penetrator to a velocity of 1650 m/s. We predict that performance increases on the order of 25% are possible in theory for the best of the advanced propulsion concepts. In practice a 10 to 15% increase is a more realistic upper limit. The use of a 30% longer gun tube operating at a 15% higher peak breech pressure results in an almost 10% increase in muzzle velocity. Relatively small increases in muzzle velocity such as these can result in significant improvements in overall gun system effectiveness.