Projectiles for Increased Long-range effects Using electroMagnetic railgun (PILUM)

Summary

This document outlines the awarded PILUM project under the European Union’s Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR). Led by the Institut Franco-Allemand de Recherches de Saint Louis alongside six consortium partners, the project is a feasibility study on electromagnetic railgun (EMRG) technology and novel hypervelocity projectiles for artillery systems reaching distances of 200 km and above on naval and terrestrial platforms.

Project Overview and PADR Grant Details

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Preparatory Action for Defence Research - PADR programme under grant agreement No 884184 [PILUM]

Under the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR), the grant for the Research Action call on the topic ‘PADR-FDDT-EMERGING-03-2019’, subtopic (4) ‘Long-range effects’ was signed on 30 March 2021. The awarded project, called PILUM, is led by the Institut Franco-Allemand de Recherches de Saint Louis (France). The consortium encompasses a total of 7 participants from 4 countries. The project, which has a duration of 30 months, will receive an EU grant of roughly €1.5 million.

PADR Call FDDT-EMERGING-03-2019 – Information on the awarded project

Name of the project: Projectiles for Increased Long-range effects Using electroMagnetic railgun Short name: PILUM

Summary of the project: This project is a feasibility study on the use of the electromagnetic railgun (EMRG) as a long-range artillery system. Due to the significantly higher projectile velocities that can be achieved with an EMRG compared to conventional artillery, strike distances up to 200 km and above can be envisaged. The combination of both the EMRG and novel hypervelocity projectiles results in the disruptive concept of a future complementary artillery system. The project will further examine the possibility of integrating the EMRG into terrestrial and naval platforms.

Project duration: 30 months Starting date: 01 April 2021 Maximum foreseen EU Contribution: € 1.476.622,36

List of participants

INSTITUT FRANCO-ALLEMAND DE RECHERCHES DE SAINT LOUIS | Country: France | EU Contribution requested: € 434.718,14
DIEHL DEFENCE GMBH & CO. KG | Country: Germany | EU Contribution requested: € 290.400,00
ERDYN CONSULTANTS | Country: France | EU Contribution requested: € 64.934,21
Explomet Gałka, Szulc Spółka komandytowa | Country: Poland | EU Contribution requested: € 128.524,84
NAVAL GROUP | Country: France | EU Contribution requested: € 182.606,86
NEXTER SYSTEMS | Country: France | EU Contribution requested: € 302.799,03
INSTITUT VON KARMAN DE DYNAMIQUE DES FLUIDES | Country: Belgium | EU Contribution requested: € 72.639,28