Page "Electrothermal-chemical technology" Paragraph 7

ETC technology offers a medium-risk upgrade and is to the point, currently, where changes for maturity are so minor that it can be considered as a realistic replacement for current solid propellant guns within the next two decades.

The lightweight American 120 mm XM-291 came close to achieving 17 MJ of muzzle energy, which is the lower-end muzzle energy spectrum for a 140 mm gun.

However, the success of the XM-291 doesn't imply the success of ETC technology as there are key parts of the propulsion system that are not yet understood or fully developed, such as the plasma ignition process.

Nevertheless, there is substantial existing evidence that ETC technology is viable and something worth the money to continue development.

Furthermore, it can be integrated into current gun systems.

However, technology maturity requires a further understanding of the technology itself.