Abstract: A plasma injection device in combination with a projectile includes a reusable multi-part propellant case which has a cartridge base and an electrically insulating case body directly attached to the cartridge base. The case body has an interior, a front end and an opposite rearward end. The rearward end of the case body is directly attached to the cartridge base. The case body has an outer surface for engaging an inner surface of a weapon tube whereby the case body constitutes an obturator. An electrode is held in the cartridge base in direct contact therewith. The electrode extends into the electrically insulating material and is exposed to the interior of the case body. The device further includes a plasma-receiving container having a front end and a rearward end; the rearward end is attached to the front end of the case body. The case body and the plasma-receiving container are substantially consecutively disposed end-to-end.

Abstract: A plasma injection device (plasma burner) for a projectile has a multi-part propellant case and a plasma-receiving container attached to the propellant case. The multi-part propellant case includes a cartridge base; an electrically insulating case body directly attached to the cartridge base and also constituting an obturator; and an electrode held in and being electrically insulated from the cartridge base.

Abstract: A weapon assembly for an armored vehicle includes a turret; a turret cage attached to and being disposed underneath the turret; a weapon supported in the turret and having a barrel; and a belt magazine received in part in the turret and in part in the turret cage. The belt magazine has a loading belt and a plurality of horizontally disposed, ammunition-accommodating container tubes attached to the loading belt. The belt magazine further has a frontal receiving position above the turret cage and laterally of the turret. A loading tube is swingably supported behind the weapon for movement between a first position and a second position. In the first position the loading tube is in alignment with the container tube when the latter is in the frontal receiving position. In the second position the loading tube is in alignment with the weapon barrel in a rearward receiving position.

Abstract: A gun barrel has an erosion-reducing, electrically non-conductive lining extending along a length portion of the gun barrel. The lining is made of a polyimide.

Abstract: A gun barrel for a hybrid propellant/electrothermal gun has a first barrel portion; a second barrel portion axially separated from the first barrel portion; and an insulator unit forming a third barrel portion. The insulator unit connects the first and second barrel portions to one another and defines a plasma path. There is further provided an arrangement for placing the first barrel portion on a first electric potential and for placing the second barrel portion on a second electric potential. The first and second potentials are different from one another for generating, in the plasma path, an electric arc having an orientation parallel to the barrel axis for heating propellant gases which initially accelerate the projectile.

Abstract: A silencer arrangement for large-caliber guns (3;33,34) including at least one silencer (5;54,55). In order for the system characteristics of the gun (3;33,34) not to be negatively influenced by the heavy weight of the silencer (5;54,55), the silencer is not fastened (5;54,55), as in the case of small-caliber weapons, on the weapon tube or barrel itself, but instead, is arranged on a separate silencer gun carriage (6;39) which is mechanically decoupled from the gun (3;33,34), with the gun carriage (6;39) preferably being configured such that the silencers (5;54,55) may be moved in synchronism with the movement of the gun barrel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gun tube having a spin curve with a variable spin angle as well as a rifling force R(x) over the path of the projectile (x) through the gun tube when a projectile is fired, as well as a predetermined caliber d, projectile mass m.sub.G, mass moment of inertia J about the longitudinal axis of the projectile, gas pressure force P(x) on the projectile bottom and projectile velocity v(x). In order to realize, within the framework of manufacturing tolerances, an accurate spin curve corresponding to diverse desired characteristics of the rifling force, it is provided that the rifling force R(x) is determined according toR(x)=R.sub.max R.sub.n (x)where R.sub.max is the maximum rifling force value which is a function of a predetermined final spin angle .beta..sub.E and R.sub.

Abstract: In order to improve the service life of prior art gun tubes and to improve the ballistics of a projectile fired through them, the present invention provides a gun tube with an optimized variable rifling which produces a rifling force curve (R(x)) along the gun tube (x) which has an essentially trapezoidal shape with a noticeably reduced rifling force maximum compared to the rifling force curves of conventional constant rifling.

Abstract: An electrothermal acceleration device, having a housing with a breechblock at one end, wherein a plasma burner disposed at the breechblock includes a plurality of plasma channels which are arranged so as to be electrically insulated from one another and from the housing. Preferably, the plasma burner has a conical shape so as to realize good gas tightness.