Safety, Reliability & Performance of the Ahead (ABM)

Safety, Reliability & Performance of the Ahead (ABM) Programmable Fuze System NDIA 39th Annual Gun & Ammunition Baltimore, MD Apr. 13-16, 2004 Presented by: Allan Buckley Director Product Management Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG CH-8050 Zurich / Switzerland www.mauseroerlikon.com [email protected]

Ahead: The AIR BURST Technology for Medium Calibre Ammunition

Ahead (ABM) for Air Defense and Vehicle Armament F2 15087 DE Programmer Payload Ejection Target Fire Control Unit ABM Electronics Vo Measurement Fuze Programming Application IFV:

Time Programmable Payload Electronic Fuze Power Ejection Supply Charge Subprojectiles Explosive Train (W-Alloy) (Squib, S&A, Deto) Data Electronic Receiver Timer Module Coil (ETM) Ahead (ABM) KETF Projectile Concept Outline F2 15024 BB (Setback Generator)

Ignition System / Squib Electronic Timer Module / ETM 40F9211-11 Set-Back Generator Ahead (ABM) Fuze Module F2 15086 CE

Axial Acceleration Safety Criteria for Ahead (ABM) KETF Fuze Ignition Energy Chemically Stored ABM AHEAD KETF FUZE PROGR.: DETONATION / SD Ignition Energy Chemically Stored Safe Lock 1 Axial Acceleration Safe Lock 2 Rotation Safe Lock 1 Axial Acceleration Safe Lock 2 Rotation DUD DETONATION Rotation Exterior Shock Interior Ignition Trigger Storage Ignition Energy Completely Inert Ignition Energy Mechanically Stored MECHANICAL FUZES DUD DUD SELF-DESTRUCT Ignition Energy Electrically Stored Electr. Muzzle Safety (embedded) No Impact Sensor F2 16516 A1

Capacitors Loaded Rupture Disc Punched (Set-Back Generator) >10000 ms Ahead (ABM) KETF Fuze: Life Cycle Events - Summary 0< 5 10 50 100 1000 10000 ms 8192 ms Barrel Muzzle Area Operational Range Muzzle 64 ms Electronic Muzzle Safety Self-Destruct Electronics Detonator In Armed Position SAFE Rotation Lock Post Range No Time Programming Possible (ECM Proof) Electrical Energy Capacitors Totally Discharged No Ignition Energy No Ignition Energy Cartridge Percussion Propellant Storage Axial Lock SAFE Phases: Programmed Payload Ejection Time Programming Programming Window 0 ms F2 16516 A5

Ahead (ABM) System Function Reliability Theoretical Reliability Prediction according: MIL Handbooks 217F2 & 338 Results of ABM System Ahead Reliability: In Theory > 97% In Practice > 97% F2 16260 AA

35 mm Ahead (ABM) HETF Programmable Payload Delivery „String of Pearls“ at 550 rd/min of 35mm Ahead-HETF Ammo M1 15555 1st Rd: 1200 m 10th Rd: 300 m 10 Rds between 1200 m & 300 m every 100 m! Precise Time Space Payload Delivery up to 5000 rd/min! F2 15559 CC

Compensation of the Muzzle Velocity Variation Burst of 7 Rounds 35mm Ahead-HETF Ammo at 1.6 km Range F2 15561 CD Without Compensation M1 15556 With Compensation M1 15557

TM P-T03.02.07-189-B10_MVC-577F 30mm x 173 Ahead (ABM) KETF Subprojectile Payload: Layout & Footprint F1 16358 AB

30mm x 173 Ahead (ABM) KETF Subprojectile Dynamic Parameter Projectile (162 SP) 100% 12° 3.5 m2 (2.1 m) 55.4 m2 (8.4 m) 31.3 m2 (6.3 m) 13.9 m2 (4.2 m) Striking Area (Diameter) 46 12 5 3 Subprojectile-Density (#/m2) Distance (m) Velocity & Perforation (%) 94% 90% 85% 80% Payload Ejection at 500 m Range (Cone of 12° Opening Angle) F2 10138 CD

Range of Subprojectiles [m] Mild Steel Plate Thickness Penetrated [mm] 30mm x 173 Ahead (ABM) KETF Subprojectile Penetration Capability Subprojectile (SP): 1.24 g # SP per Round: 162 Target Plate: Mild Steel

30mm x 173 Ahead (ABM) KETF: 3 Rd Burst Effectiveness against ATGW-Bunker at 1 km F2 16156 BB Notice: ATGW: Anti-Tank Guided Weapon Results: Numerous Full Perforations / 100% Damage (Demo: Dec.1999)

30mm x 173 Ahead (ABM) KETF: 5 Round Burst against Squad of 7 - Target M1 16501A8 F1 16501 A84 Target: Squad of 7 (Field: 2 x 38m) The video shows a 5 round burst fired to the target field (firing rate: 200 rd/min). Distance between rounds: 9 m Multiple perforations in each of the 7 target plates (2mm Fe): 13 Perforations/m2 on Average. Target Field

30mm x 173 Ahead (ABM) KETF against Urban Target (Unprogrammed Fuze) F2 15562 BB Target: 20 cm Concrete Wall with double Steel-Structure Reinforced Range: 500 m Results: Target Fully Penetrated M1 15962BA

F2 15256 BA Lethality of a 3 Rd Burst against an ATGW Bunker at 1500 m 35mm x 228 Ahead (ABM) KETF & HETF against ATGW-Bunker

Power Supply: Set Back Generator (Activation over 28‘000 g); i.e no Battery Full Gun Unload Safety Safe & Arm: Mechanical & Electronic Time Programming of less than 64 ms not accepted (Default: Self Destruct ) Each Bit programmed with Double Pulse Completeness Check on 12 Bit Message (if negative: Self Destruct On!) If no fuze programming required or possible: automatically Self Destruct On No Impact Sensor in Fuze: firing through bushes & tree branches w/o burst Total HE content less than 0.6 g for 30mm F2 15037 CE Ahead (ABM) KETF: Ahead Technology Main Safety Features

One Ahead (ABM) Fuze System - Two Different Warhead Configurations F2 16124 BC Blast Fragmentation Warhead HETF (High Explosive Time Fuze) Subprojectile Warhead KETF (Kinetic Energy Time Fuze) 30mm x 173 35mm x 228 40mm x 53 Scale: Fuze

Ahead (ABM) HETF Basic Concept for 40mm x 53 Automatic Grenade Launcher AGL F2 15015 BA T A R G E T Conventional HE Round (PD-Fuze) Optimum for Air Burst Munition

F2 15254 BB 6008 6008 40 mm x 53 Ahead (ABM) HETF Firing Trials at 200 m & 1000 m Range M1 16117BA Remarks: No fragments are flying backwards! Firing Rate up to 570 rd/min (AGL-ST-Kinetics)

Ahead (ABM) System Milestones • 1973 8 bit - transmission demonstrated on a 20 mm shell at muzzle exit (1st “Ahead-like” programming) • 1992 35 mm Ahead - Ammunition: technical presentation to international ammo experts /OCP- Test Center • 1996 NATO qualification of the Ahead system (Canada) • 1999 Demonstration of ABM 30 mm x 173 prototype • 2000 Demonstration of ABM 40 mm x 53 prototype for AGL • End 2003 - 35 mm Ahead ABM Systems fielded in 8 countries. In evaluation / procurement in several others. - 30 mm x 173/170 & 40 mm x 53 ABM in evaluation in several countries. F2 16310 BC

35mm Ahead (ABM) KETF Detonation in Ammo Box Ejection Charge (0.9 g HE) of One Round Detonated Result: no damage occurs to the other packed rounds and therefore no sympathetic detonation possible F2 16516 A6