Qualification of 120mm Rifled Ammunition in Support of the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS)

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1 Qualification of 120mm Rifled Ammunition in Support of the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) 42 nd Annual Armament Systems: Guns and Missile Systems Conference & Exhibition April 23-26,2007 Charlotte, NC Approved for public release by MARCORSYSCOM on 4/19/07 1

2 EFSS Program Overview Expeditionary Fire Support System is a U.S. Marine requirement for a weapon system that must be: All weather Ground Based Close supporting Accurate Immediate Response Lethal indirect fire 2

3 EFSS System Description An EFSS system consists of: Two Prime Movers Ammunition Trailer 120mm Rifled Mortar Full Suite of 120mm Rifled Ammunition Approved for Release by TDA 3

4 Mortar and Ammunition Background TDA (a subsidiary of Thales) developed 120mm Rifled Mortar and Ammunition Developed in the early 1970s In service with 24 countries, including 4 NATO armies and Japan. Over 500,000 rounds fired with no issues. Rifled barrel provides a spin stabilized projectile. Maximum range of standard rifled ammunition is 8.1km GD-OTS teamed with TDA to bring rifled mortar capability to EFSS platform Approved for Release by TDA 4

5 Standard 120mm Rifled Ammunition TDA s 120mm Standard Ammunition Suite High Explosive (HE) 4.2 kg of TNT Practice 0.5 kg of black powder for spotting Illumination 1.9 kg flare Obscurant/Incendiary (Smoke) 2.8 kg of White Phosphorous All four types of ammunition share the same Tail Charge Assembly Approved for Release by TDA 5

6 120mm Rifled Ammunition for USMC USMC funded GD-OTS to upgrade the ammunition to meet qualification requirements of the USN for EFSS Insensitive Munitions (IM) Environmental and Durability Hazard Classification Fuze Safety Performance Oriented Packaging (POP) Electro-static Discharge 6

7 EFSS HE Ammunition Upgrade Modifications to HE Projectile Replace TNT fill with PBXW-128 (HMX based) Equip with an M767A1 fuze utilizing a PBXN-5 booster Add a fuze venting liner between the projectile body and the fuze FUZE BOOSTER BODY Explosive OBTURATING RING BASE OF SHELL Design Constraint Maintain equivalent lethality Similar ballistics SPRING CLIPS EJECTING CHARGE CHARGES CARTRIDGE FIRING PIN Approved for Release by TDA 7

EFSS Practice Ammunition Upgrade Modifications to Practice Projectile Equip with an M767A1 fuze utilizing a PBXN-5 booster Add a fuze venting liner between the projectile body and the fuze FUZE

8 EFSS Practice Ammunition Upgrade Modifications to Practice Projectile Equip with an M767A1 fuze utilizing a PBXN-5 booster Add a fuze venting liner between the projectile body and the fuze FUZE BOOSTER BLACK POWDER CHARGE INERT CHARGE OBTURATING BODY RING REAR OF BODY Design Constraint Maintain spotting ability Same ballistic to EFSS HE SPRING CLIPS EJECTING CHARGE PROPELLANT CHARGE CARTDRIDGE FIRING PIN Approved for Release by TDA 8

9 EFSS Illumination Ammunition Upgrade Modifications to Illumination Projectile Equip with an M762A1 fuze ILLUMINATING CHARGE IGNITION FRONT BODY SECONDARY PROJECTILE PARACHUTE PROTECTOR HOUSING MAIN PARACHUTE REAR BODY BRAKE OF PROJECTILE PARACHUTE OBTURATING RING Design Constraint Maintain flare ability Similar ballistics FUZE SPRING CLIPS EJECTING CHARGE PROPELLANT CHARGES CARTRIDGE FIRING PIN Approved for Release by TDA 9

10 EFSS Smoke Ammunition Upgrade Modifications to Smoke Projectile FUZE BOOSTER IGNITOR SYSTEM BODY LOCKING RESIN OBTURATING WHITE RING PHOSPHORUS Equip with an M767A1 fuze utilizing a PBXN-5 booster Replace Comp B igniter with PBXN-9 Design Constraint Maintain obscurant ability WATER Similar ballistics SPRING CLIPS EJECTING CHARGE PROPELLANT CHARGES CARTRIDGE FIRING PIN Approved for Release by TDA 10

EFSS Container Assembly Upgrade PA117 Vented Container Assembly for HE, Practice, and Illumination rounds Blow out panels allow pressure release Foam packaging separates and returns to resin form

11 EFSS Container Assembly Upgrade PA117 Vented Container Assembly for HE, Practice, and Illumination rounds Blow out panels allow pressure release Foam packaging separates and returns to resin form when heated Fuze has room to completely detach from projectile with heat and pressure Blowout Panels allow pressure release from inside the container Foam cushions and sleeves melt and separate to prevent insulation of heat 11

Smoke projectiles are stored and transported vertically to prevent air gaps in the white phosphorous

12 EFSS Container Assembly Upgrade PA103A2 Container Assembly for Smoke only Blow out panel allow pressure release from the bottom of the container Foam packaging separates and returns to resin form when heated Smoke projectiles are stored and transported vertically to prevent air gaps in the white phosphorous resulting in poor ballistic performance A Blowout Panel in the bottom of the container allows pressure release 12

13 Environmental/Durability Qualification Test Plan 45 EFSS rounds of each ammunition type were tested (including vibration and drop testing) High Temp (+160F) Low Temp (-65 F) Low Pressure Altitude Temperature Shock Test facilities included NSWC Dahlgren NSWC Crane Hawthorne 13

14 Hazard Assessment/Classification Qualification Test Plan 54 EFSS rounds of each ammunition type were tested Testing required to meet MIL-STD- 2105C, Hazard Assessment Tests for Non-Nuclear Munitions Thermal Stability (1) Combined Sympathetic Detonation/ Stack Test (8) Combined Fast Cook-off/ External Fire (25) Slow Cook-off (2) Bullet Impact (2) Fragment Impact (2) Shaped Charge Jet (2) Hazard Assessment/Classification Testing (54) Transportation Vibration [-65F] Shipboard Vibration [-65F] 4 Day Temp. & Humidity (6) 28 Day Temp. & Humidity (12) Transportation Vibration [+70F] Shipboard Vibration [+70F] Inspect, X-ray & Fire Inspect, X-ray & Fire Transportation Vibration [+160F] Shipboard Vibration [+160F] 40Ft Drop Inspect, X-ray & Fire 14

15 EFSS Qualification Results Sympathetic Detonation Confined Sympathetic Detonation Unconfined EFSS Round Types Slow Cook- Off Fast Cook- Off Fragment Impact Bullet Impact Shape Charge Jet HE V IV III V Pass Pass I Illumination V IV III IV Pass Pass Not scheduled Smoke Projectile III III IV Not scheduled Smoke Tail Charge EFSS AMMUNITION QUALIFICATION STATUS April 16th, 2007 IM TESTS III (Mixed Pallet) Pass (Mixed pallet) Pass (Mixed pallet) Assembly IV III IV Not scheduled Practice V IV III IV Pass Pass Not scheduled IMRB reviewed the EFSS ammunition qualification results Testing reviewed and results officially scored Approved for submission for final qualifications 15

16 EFSS Qualification Conclusion All qualification testing in accordance with the basic test plan have been completed Testing conducted at the following locations: NSWC Dahlgren NSWC Crane NSWC Indian Head Hawthorne Eglin AFB Strategic plan for future improvements being evaluated IOC scheduled for late September of

105 mm HEP-IM. Reduced Vulnerability / Enhanced Lethality Direct Fire Large Caliber HE Ammunition for MGS. Presented by Roger Gelinas 23 April 2008

105 mm HEP-IM. Reduced Vulnerability / Enhanced Lethality Direct Fire Large Caliber HE Ammunition for MGS. Presented by Roger Gelinas 23 April 2008 105 mm HEP-IM Reduced Vulnerability / Enhanced Lethality Direct Fire Large Caliber HE Ammunition for MGS Presented by Roger Gelinas 23 April 2008 2007 General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems-Canada