Unmanned Vehicles for Mobile Electromagnetic Launch Platforms

Many applications for electromagnetic (EM) launch that have been postulated over the last 30 years involve integration aboard mobile platforms. These mobile applications span both direct-fire (tank-like) and indirect-fire (mortar, artillery, and offshore) support functions for maneuvering forces, as well as ship-based shore fire support, self defense, and airborne launch. The traditional approach to implementing these systems has been to build the concept around vehicle designs of currently built or fielded human-piloted or driven platforms. This paper examines the benefits and limitations of integration aboard platforms leveraging the growth of unmanned vehicle design approaches. The resulting overall systems will be shown to provide opportunities to gain enhanced overall performance and safety and possibly to unlock new tactical or strategic uses of EM launch.