Long range Naval Gun Fire Support (NGFS) represents a cost efficient and highly effective enabling technology for the U.S. and Allies to retaliate against remote terrorist elements without relying on expensive missiles and air assets. This proposal describes a chemically driven hydrogen gun that will provide two to three times the range of next generation rocket propelled munitions for standard barrel lengths and upwards of 300 nm for extended barrel designs. The technology involves a cartridge system that rapidly combusts aluminum and water propellant to produce high-pressure hydrogen gas while trapping the heavy aluminum oxide products. The result is a light gas gun that stores the hydrogen as water and operates as a standard cartridge gun. Projections show muzzle velocities near 2.2 km/sec are achievable for a 20 kg (44 lb) projectile in a 5"-62 cal gun. Previous work by APTI's staff has demonstrated the ability to combust aluminum-water and accelerate projectiles (up to 120mm) to high velocities. This proposal builds on that work by addressing two major performance issues associated with the earlier work. These issues include the large electrical ignition system and the discharge of large amounts of aluminum oxide in the combustion process which significantly reduces the acceleration performance of the projectile acceleration and coats the inside of the barrel. In this proposal, using a conventional ignition train eliminates the need for a large pulse-forming network. Secondly, and more significantly, a means for trapping the heavy aluminum oxide is proposed such that the result is a chemically driven light gas gun. Considering its facilities and corporate experience, APTI is uniquely qualified to pursue development of this technology. The hydrogen gun concept is applicable to a number of gun systems. Within DOD a significant market exists presently for direct application of the technology to provide high velocity direct fire and long range artillery from both shipboard and land platforms. Commercially, the ability to chemically drive a hydrogen gun opens the possibility for low orbit launch. Additionally, a variety of environmentally attractive propulsion and power generation capabilities can be realized using this combustion technology to provide hydrogen and heat for compact power supplies and fuel cells
