Large Caliber Frangible Projectile
Inventors: John Kostka, Luis Lavrador (ARDEC)
Patent No.: US D9212876
Date of Patent: Dec. 15, 2015
PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. -- Picatinny engineers have patented a new training projectile that fragments into pieces on impact in order to better contain fired projectiles during Soldier training.
The patent, granted to Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center employees, John Kostka and Luis Lavrador, can be applied to large caliber, gun-launched projectiles such as the
M1002 Target Practice Multipurpose Tracer training round.
The M1002 is a 120 mm training cartridge fired from the Abrams Battle Tank during training to replicate the tactical M830A1 High Explosive Anti-Tank Multipurpose Tracer.
The patent is potentially useful because the nose portion of current large caliber projectiles have been manufactured from high strength steel that doesn't break on impact. Because the steel nose does not fragment, it ricochets and can fly several kilometers after initial impact.
The new projectile nose breaks on impact, which disperses the projectile fragments in a smaller range.
At munitions testing and training sites, berms are used to protect targets, and backstops located behind the targets are used to contain the projectiles.
In the past, testing and training exercises conducted with high strength steel projectiles were not an issue because the projectiles had a relatively low initial velocity and low mass, resulting in low impact energy.
The use of berms and backstops at the testing and training areas was sufficient to protect targets and contain the fired projectiles.
However, large caliber munitions have advanced greatly and the high strength steel projectiles have higher initial velocity and greater mass.
Because the impact energy of the current projectiles is greater than in the past, the existing berms and backstops may no longer be sufficient to protect targets and contain fired projectiles.
Current solutions to prevent stray projectiles at testing and training areas as well as minimize damage to berms and backstops include:
A: Expand the area of the Surface Danger Zone (SDZ) at training sites. The SDZ is the mathematically predicted area in which a projectile or fragments will land or ricochet.
This area has specific dimensions that provide a contained area for all fragments. However, the additional real estate needed for an expanded SDZ is not always readily available.
B: Rebuild the berms and backstops at considerable cost.
C: Train with a new, frangible round that breaks up the nose on impact and limits its ricochet distance. This fragmentation will limit the SDZ, as well as minimize damage to berms and backstops.
To ensure proper training, the frangible projectile mirrors the tactical projectiles as closely as possible in regards weight, center of gravity, length, and external ballistics. It is also strong enough to withstand the large caliber gun environment, including set back forces, pressure, and heat.
The new rounds could, "provide training ammunition to the warfighter that could be used in ranges that have reduced surface danger zones.
This enables the warfighter to train in a variety of training facilities around the world," said Luis M. Lavrador, the patent co-designer.
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The U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to ensure decisive overmatch for unified land operations to empower the Army, the joint warfighter and our nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
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