Abstract: Microwave ignition systems with a launcher affixed to or located within a gun spindle. Use of a planar, impedance matched system that include a launcher affixed to or located within a gun spindle and a receiver affixed the propelling charge, where the receiver is engineered and impedance matched to efficiently deposit energy into the receiving igniter material, may result in significantly better timing and reliability than conventional mechanical gun ignition systems and other microwave ignition systems. A pressure-tolerant feed through system can route the microwave energy to the inside of the breech.

Abstract: The systems and methods for microwave ignition of energetic material housed within a gun (e.g., primers and/or propellants) allow for the use of insensitive energetic materials and/or insensitive gas-generating materials in place of sensitive energetic materials relied upon by mechanical ignition systems. In some embodiments, the use of insensitive energetic materials and/or insensitive gas-generating materials increase the safety and reliability of guns that would otherwise need to depend on sensitive energetic material required by mechanical or laser ignition mechanisms. Additionally, in some embodiments, the systems and methods provide greater versatility with respect to the variety of energetic materials that may be employed within guns.