Award

Electro-thermal-ignition (ETI) technology increases accuracy and muzzle energy of present and future tank, artillery, and close-in weapon system guns by improving the predictability and repeatability of the ignition, and rate of expansion, of propellants inside the barrel. A compact, barrel-mounted pulsed power system poses survivability challenges for subassembly components. Electrical components must be designed to meet high-shock performance requirements. Diversified Technologies, Inc. (DTI) has previously developed high energy, solid-state pulsed power systems to support several DoD directed energy weapons systems. These systems include rugged designs built to survive the shock and vibration environments required for mobile deployment. Using these components as a base, we focused Phase I efforts in adapting components for the high shock requirements of a barrel/breech-mounted ETI pulsed power supply (ETIPPS).