Munitions Standardization, Effectiveness and Safety

Abstract

This Program Element supports continuing technology investigations. It provides a coordinated tri-service mechanism for the collection and free exchange of technical data on the performance and effectiveness of all non-nuclear conventional munitions and weapons systems in a realistic operational environment. It provides for NATO interchangeability testing (F21); Joint munition effectiveness manuals used by all services; development of standardization agreements (STANAGS) and associated Manuals of Proof and Inspection (MOPI); operation of the North American Regional Test Center (NARTC); evaluation of demilitarization methods for existing conventional ammunition (F24); evaluation of useful shelf life, safety, reliability and producibility of pyrotechnic munitions; and improvement of explosives safety criteria for DOD munitions via the DOD Explosives Safety Board (857). Pyrotechnic Reliability and Safety (296) supports pyrotechnic research, development and testing to identify, characterize and resolve reliability, safety, storage and manufacturing issues that impact production availability and field use of pyrotechnics. Project 296 will result in the development and demonstration of new, safe, reliable and environmentally acceptable munitions. Munitions Survivability and Logistics (297) will make Army units more survivable by applying technologies to reduce the sensitivity of munitions to unplanned stimuli (e.g. bullet impacts, fragment impacts, fast cook off, slow cook off, sympathetic detonation, shaped charge jets) and by testing and demonstrating munitions logistics system solutions that prevent or minimize catastrophic explosive events and accelerate ammunition resupply. Project 297 also supports the Army Insensitive Munitions (IM) Board's reviews. The Army Explosives Safety Management Program (858) was established in FY01. The U.S. Army Technical Center for Explosives Safety uses the funds in this project to evaluate current explosives safety standards and develop new, scientific and risk-based standards to meet U. S. Army explosives requirements. The Life Cycle Pilot Program (LCPP) (859) will assess production base capabilities and needs over the acquisition life cycle of various munitions and will address the producibility of ammunition including the transition to type classification and production, and the ability of the production base to cost effectively produce quality products on schedule. The Fuze Technology Integration program (862) will improve performance and lower the costs of existing proximity fuzes and enable new applications in submunitions and medium caliber fuzes, addressing advanced proximity fuze sensor technology, Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS), Safety and Arming (S&A) technology, and Electronic S&A (ESA) technology for smart munitions.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2012
• Source ID: 0605805A_6_2040_PB_2012
• Service Agency Name: Army

Entities

Organizations

• United States Army

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Counter IED
• Human Systems
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Ammunition
• Ammunition Containers
• Ammunition Testing
• Explosions
• Explosives
• Fire Control Systems
• Insensitive Explosives
• Logistics
• Material Degradation Processes
• Materials Laboratories
• Materials Processing
• Munitions
• Munitions Testing
• Ordnance Laboratories
• Performance Tests
• Scatterable Mines
• Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Munitions and Ordnance Engineering

Technology Areas

• Microelectronics