Is Electric armour feasible with current technology?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of electric armor, also known as dynamic armor or electric reactive armor, for protecting armored vehicles from anti-tank weapons. Participants explore the theoretical underpinnings, practical challenges, and current technological advancements related to this concept.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants describe electric armor as a system that uses two shells with an electric charge to disrupt incoming projectiles, questioning its feasibility and effectiveness against various types of munitions.
  • One participant cites a source indicating that while electric armor has tested well against lightweight warheads like RPGs, it struggles with heavier kinetic-energy projectiles, raising concerns about its practical deployment.
  • There is discussion about the ability of electric armor to withstand multiple hits at the same spot, contingent on the speed of recharging the metal plates.
  • Some participants express frustration over access to detailed studies and articles, indicating that they could not read certain references due to paywalls.
  • A participant speculates that advancements in power-management technologies for electric vehicles could potentially aid in improving electric armor systems.
  • Another participant mentions the possibility of using high-power generators, similar to those considered for rail guns, to produce the necessary currents for electric armor.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the effectiveness and feasibility of electric armor. There are competing views on its ability to protect against different types of projectiles and the challenges of rapid recharging.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in accessing full articles and studies, which may affect the depth of the discussion. The conversation also highlights the dependence on specific technological advancements that are still under development.

FTM1000
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I read about electric armor (also known as dynamic armor or electric reactive armor) that can protect armored vehicles from shaped charges of anti-tank weapons and I want to know if its feasible today.
according to wikipedia:
[Moderator: please don't do this without a link. The link is The link is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_Armor]
"Electrically charged armour is a recent development in the United Kingdom by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. A vehicle is fitted with two thin shells, separated by insulating material. The outer shell holds an enormous electric charge, while the inner shell is at ground. If an incoming HEAT jet needle of a conductive metal, like copper, penetrates both shells, it forms a bridge between them, and the electrical energy discharges rapidly through the jet, disrupting it. Trials have so far been promising, and it is hoped that improved systems could protect against kinetic energy penetrators"

what are the challenges in making something like this and putting it on something like a tank?. the electric armor can(in theory at least) work more than once at one spot or it get useless after the first penetration?. the wiki article mentioned successful tirals but I didn't managed to find much information about electric armor other than this article(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229034493_Insights_from_numerical_modeling_of_electric_armor_using_hydrocode_and_electromagnetic_software) from 15 years ago but is to technical for me.
 
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Did you read the references from the Wikipedia article? One of them says.

https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2011/06/02/the-armour-strikes-back said:
Antoine Vincent, in charge of electric armour for the European Defence Agency (EDA), says it has tested well against RPGs. A study by BMT Defence Services, a British firm, notes that electric armour, being lightweight, makes it easier to airlift vehicles. Even so, neither BMT nor the EDA think the technology will be deployed soon. It has proven difficult to rearm the metal plates from batteries fast enough to zap the second charge of a tandem warhead. Some of the power-management technologies being developed for electric vehicles may help on that front. But, says Mr Vincent, electric armour still does not deliver enough electricity to fry the metal in many kinetic-energy projectiles, which destroy armour with their impact. An RPG warhead may eject a copper spike weighing several hundred grams. Kinetic-energy projectiles can weigh several kilograms.
 
anorlunda said:
Did you read the references from the Wikipedia article? One of them says.
the website asks you to register/subscribe and pay for watching some of its content like that article so I didn't read it.
so it can work for multiple hits on the same spot as long as it can "charge" the metal plates fast enough?. what kind of technology developed for electric vehicles can help here?.
 
FTM1000 said:
the website asks you to register/subscribe and pay for watching some of its content like that article so I didn't read it.
Not the website I linked.

FTM1000 said:
so it can work for multiple hits on the same spot
Re-read. It can only stop lightweight warheads such as RPG. It won't stop more massive ones such a round fired by another tank.
 
anorlunda said:
Not the website I linked.Re-read. It can only stop lightweight warheads such as RPG. It won't stop more massive ones such a round fired by another tank.
I am talking about HEAT warheads and not kinetic penetrators used by tanks.
I am using your link and got only part of the article with "register to read this article in full" at the end. did you registered in that site?.
 
FTM1000 said:
I am using your link and got only part of the article with "register to read this article in full" at the end. did you registered in that site?.

I did not read it in full. I got the quote from the fraction that was open.
 
anorlunda said:
I did not read it in full. I got the quote from the fraction that was open.
https://snag.gy/YxrP0z.jpg
this is all what I see and I used copy past with the link you provided... maybe you registered to this site once and forgot about it?.

can you tell me what type of "power-management technologies being developed for electric vehicles" the article talked about?.
 
FTM1000 said:
can you tell me what type of "power-management technologies being developed for electric vehicles" the article talked about?.

Not specifically, but my guess is improved batteries and improved battery charging circuits.
 
The same power sources considered for rail guns have also been considered for this idea. In both cases, in my own experience, the idea was to have very how power generator spinning at high speed that is shorted to produce the required currents by extracting energy from the rotating mass.
 

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