A new technology called
electric reactive armour (also termed
electromagnetic reactive armour, or colloquially as
electric armour) is in development. This armour is made up of two or more conductive plates separated by an air gap or by an insulating material, creating a high-power
capacitor.
[4][5][6][7][8] In operation, a high-voltage power source
chargesthe armour. When an incoming body penetrates the plates, it closes the
circuit to discharge the capacitor, dumping a great deal of energy into the penetrator, which may vaporize it or even turn it into a
plasma, significantly diffusing the attack. It is not public knowledge whether this is supposed to function against both kinetic energy penetrators and shaped charge jets, or only the latter. This technology has not yet been introduced on any known operational platform.
An alternative design to ERA uses layers of plates of electromagnetic metal with silicone spacers on alternate sides. The damage to the exterior of the armor passes electricity into the plates causing them to magnetically move together. As the process is completed at the
speed of electricity the plates are moving when struck by the projectile causing the projectile energy to be deflected whilst the energy is also dissipated in parting the magnetically attracted plates.