Common Low-cost IM Explosive
Program
Joint U S Army & U S Marine Corps
Department of the Army
Army Research Development and Engineering Center
Attn:
Mr. Anthony Di Stasio
Tel 973-724-4547 Fax 973-724-4308
anthony.r.distasio@us.army.mil
Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000
NDIA-2008
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Common Low-cost
IM Explosives
Artillery HE Projectiles
Mortar HE Cartridges
105mm HE
(M1, M760)
105mm HE-RA
(M927, M913)
155mm HE-RA
(M549A1)
155mm HE
(M107)
60mm HE
(M720, M768, M888)
81mm HE
(M821, M889)
120mm HE
(M933, M934)
155mm HE
(M795)
Baseline Explosive = TNT
TNT filled Projectiles FAIL all IM Tests
Baseline Explosive = Comp-B
Comp-B filled Cartridges FAIL IM Tests
¾ ISSUE:
9 TNT & Comp-B explosives have poor IM results
9 HE items require IM Waiver
− IM explosives identified under prior efforts
− Specific to individual program requirements
− Lacked commonality
− Some IM improvements – still need waiver
− NTIB Cost Impacts
¾CORRECTIVE ACTION:
9 Investigate new IM Explosives with intention to
insert into production in near-term
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Background
9 Objective: Common Low-cost IM Explosive Program
9 New IM Explosive for Artillery and Mortar applications that are:
• Effective
– Maintain Lethality with minimal or no degradation
• Less Sensitive
–
If not fully compliant, must show improvement over Baseline explosive
• Affordable
– Artillery Cost Drivers = Steel Body Material & Explosive Fill
– Mortar Cost Drivers = Steel Body Material, Fuze & Propelling Charges
• Producible within the National Technology and Industrial Base (NTIB)
–
Infrastructure
– Raw Ingredients
– Explosive formulation
– Projectile Load, Assemble & Pack (LAP)
• Other Considerations
–
Intellectual Property Rights
– Demilitarization
– Environmental
Primary Objective is to provide a Common IM Fill
-- or --
one common TNT replacement (Artillery)...
...and one common Comp-B replacement (Mortars)
4
V
Burn
Background: IM Test Results
155mm Artillery Baseline
FCO
SCO
BI
FI
SD
SCJI
III
III
III
V
III
V
V
V
III
III
III
IV
III
III
IV
III
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