Electric launch in Russia. A review of recent results

In this paper, we present some major research results in electric launch te chnology that were obtained in Russia since the 8th EML Symposium in 1996. The research program includes studies of the potential of railguns, electri c discharge launchers, coil guns, and ETC guns. The main efforts of researc hers are now focused on investigation of fundamental physical processes and phenomena that limit attainment of high velocities and acceptable efficien cy of EM launchers.