I. Introduction

In 1993, AEDC's Hypervelocity Range/Track G went through a major upgrade to its model launching capability. A large, two-stage light-gas gun with a 3.3-in. (84-mm) bore launch tube was installed to provide a "soft launch" capability unmatched anywhere else in the world. "Soft launch" capability means subjecting the launch package to the minimum peak acceleration load for any given package weight and launch velocity. This capability allows the customer to launch the highest-fidelity package possible at specified conditions.1 The heart of this launching capability is a 14-in. (356-mm) pumping system that has proven to be able to deliver even greater capability than the initial design goal (see Fig. 1).

Figure 1: Drivers 14-in. driver (left), 8-in. driver (right).

This chapter describes two other significant launching capabilities that have been realized because of the capability of the 14-in. pumping system. It also describes a technology effort that will provide the capability to achieve a 10 km/s capability in a large bore launcher if successful. The requirements for the capabilities have stemmed from the lethality assessment of major Department of Defense (DoD) programs like THADD, PAC-3, and NMD.

In 1995, a requirement to launch half-scale THADD projectiles at 4 km/s generated an upgrade that resulted in an 8-in. bore launch tube addition, 45 ft of 8-in. track, and a significant increase...