Firing Data and Result from XM815/X-Rod Fin Slug Test
Abstract
The U.S. Army is developing a tank main gun cartridge referred to as X-Rod. The X-Rod munition combines a kinetic energy projectile with a rocket motor booster and on-board guidance system. This ammunition is designed to provide a high probability of kill out to extended ranges. One portion of this program is the development of a fin system to provide the projectile with the required aerodynamic stability. This system must be packaged within the allotted spatial constraints, dictated by the current 120-mm cartridge configuration, and the geometric requirements of the remaining cartridge components. A 'forward flip' deployment scheme has been selected to accomplish this goal. This concept includes eight rectangular fins that are attached to the projectile body via a single pivot pin. In the stowed position, the fins trail behind the projectile body. During in-bore travel, the fins remain in this stowed position until muzzle exit, when the blast acts to rotate the fins outward to the erected position. Several fin configurations were test fired to observe fin deployment characteristics. One of these arrangements included the addition of wedges to the fin tips to assist in fin deployment The results revealed that none of the configurations tested were able to consistently rotate the fins a full 90 deg.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA317942
Entities
People
- David H. Lyon
- John Difucci
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory