20 mm Replacement Round (Air Force)
Abstract
This project is evaluating 20 mm ammunition developed by Diehl Munitionssyteme of Germany and Oerlikon of Switzerland to replace current 20 mm combat rounds. The in-service round, the Projectile Gun Unit 28B (PGU-28B), currently presents a safety hazard due to 25 in-barrel detonations that caused aircraft damage and could have resulted in pilot death and loss of the aircraft. The PGU-28B inventory has been declared "For Emergency Use Only" even though the rounds meet the United States Air Force requirements for employment ranges and target damage. The current alternative, the M-56 round, requires the pilot to engage targets at significantly closer ranges without the same lethality, resulting in an increase in vulnerability. The Diehl Projectile Enhanced Lateral Effect (PELE) round design offers a unique capability by using a kinetic energy concept to achieve the desired explosive effects, while having no fuse. This type of technology offers the promise of a mechanically safe and cost-effective round. If selected, the PELE will utilize the same logistics support as the current 20 mm round. There are also possible logistics benefits in terms of storage and transportation because of the lower hazardous classification associated with this design. Finally, the cost and design of this round may allow the Air Force to transition to a single round for both combat and training with associated benefits in user proficiency and regularly rotated stock.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- bc4cd71bab61ba8eadbb0b11242c035b