Enhanced Munitions (previously Insensitive Muntions)
Abstract
Enhanced Munitions focuses on the following key areas: - High Performance Propulsion – Develops technologies to improve weapon range and speed, rocket motors with Ammonium Perchlorate, with or without a metal fuel, for rockets and missiles launched from air, ground, and sea platforms as well as advanced air breathing systems. - Minimum Signature Rocket Propulsion (MSP) - focuses on the development and demonstration of technologies to improve range and speed of minimum signature propellant missiles. - Area Effects Warheads (AEW) - focuses on the development of technologies to enhance the lethality of blast/ fragmentation munitions. - Hard Target Effects Warheads (HTEW) - focuses on the development of explosive ingredients, explosives, and warhead technologies for improving performance of Anti-armor warhead munitions. - Gun Propulsion (GP) - focuses on the development and demonstration of propellant, case, and igniter technologies for improved gun propulsion. FY 2020 Accomplishments: - Evaluated novel ingredients to increase conventional propellant burn rate for extended range across a suite of munitions. Completed the initial testing of a new large diameter, tactical engine for future extended range systems. Demonstrated the printing of a new rocket propellant for use in boost motors for high speed weapons. Demonstrated binder system for advanced boost motors with increased service life. - Evaluated proven binder materials for a missile propellant that can be used in multiple minimum signature applications. Down-selected modified high sensitivity formulations to six candidates to compare against baseline propellant and conduct performance testing. Formulated propellant using novel ingredients and advanced processing to reduce risk. - Completed initial designs on additively manufactured fragmenting warheads to tailor fragment size and increase fragment velocity. Performed modelling and simulation effort to investigate small scale detonations for improved pressure and lethality. Began evaluation of new ingredients in novel explosives for high energy warheads. - Produced precursor materials for new novel explosive material and produced 10 kg of new material, for studies to ensure viability and optimized material. Evaluated very fine grain novel material for use with multiple binder systems for increased performance and penetration. - Investigated a pressed cured explosive utilizing a unique binder system to be formulated with multiple nitramines. Completed development of a dual explosive shaped charge jet for improved performance. - Investigated novel solvent-less processing for improved thermal properties and tailored energy release. Developed a continuous process to produce a novel energetic plasticizer that is more energetic than current materials. Acquired and began formulation work with a new form of nitrocellulose (NC) that will potentially increase gun propellant energy and simplify gun propellant production for small and medium caliber gun propulsion systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2022
- Source ID
- cd5820886b27afc665a2197685c8dd2f