ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY Results of 3 5-mm Airburst Demonstration by Timothy G. Farrand ARL-TR-2151 January 2000 20000201 002 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. ^CQUALn YlNSPEC:EED4 The findings in this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. Citation of manufacturer's or trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use thereof. Destroy this report when it is no longer needed. Do not return it to the originator. Army Research Laboratory Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-5066 ARL-TR-2151 January 2000 Results of 35-mm Airburst Demonstration Timothy G. Farrand Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, ARL Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Abstract The U.S. Government and several industry representatives collaborated to initiate a demonstration of the current 35-mm airburst technology. The U.S. Government gathered an initial baseline database of "off-the-shelf airburst technology, while industry was given the opportunity to demonstrate the performance of their airbursting munitions to U.S. and foreign government organizations and to numerous users. Two 35-mm airburst projectiles were evaluated, the Oerlikon Contraves AHEAD projectile and the Diehl high-explosive - time fuse (HE-TF) projectile, for basic function properties and against targets representing several combat scenarios (i.e., troops in the field, troops in a covered antitank guided missile [ATGM] site, a helicopter, and the optics of a lightly armored vehicle). The basic function evaluation included the burst location, number and location of fragments, and the perforation ability of the subprojectiles against thin-steel sheets and celotex. Most of the personnel impacted in the simulated targets, some with helmets and jackets, were incapacitated to some degree. The impacts to the helicopters would have resulted in some level of mission degradation (abort), and the optics on the lightly armored vehicle were effectively damaged, making them unusable. u Acknowledgments The author wishes to acknowledge those who helped considerably on the execution of this program. Thanks are extended to the Program Manager (PM) for the Tank Main Armament Systems (TMAS) (now Tank and Medium-Caliber Armament Systems [TMAS]) and for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) for sponsoring the effort. Also, thanks go to the contractors that supplied their ammunition and their much-needed support for the test, Oerlikon-Contraves Pyrotec (Messrs. Pierre Freymond, Klaus Muenzel, and Allan Buckley) and Diehl (Mr. Stephan Kerk). The German Government representatives also added much-needed support throughout the testing. The test facilities and crew at the Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) were vital in the successful completion of the demonstration/evaluation, especially Mr. Andrew Rose, the test director. Mr. Rose performed an outstanding job arranging the test schedules and completing the test. 111 INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK. IV Table of Contents Page Acknowledgments iii List of Figures vii List of Tables ix 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Overview 1 1.2 Background 2 2. Projectiles 4 2.1 AHEAD 4 2.2 HE-TF 6 3. Evaluation Matrix 9 4. Test Procedure 13 5. Results/Discussion 16 5.1 Evaluation Targets 16 5.2 Demonstration Targets 30 6. Summary 42 7. References 45 Distribution List 47 Report Documentation Page 51 v INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK. VI List of Figures Figure Page 1. Sample Fractional Casualties 3 2. Sample Stowed Kills 3 3. Photograph of AHEAD Cutaway 5 4. Schematic of AHEAD Muzzle Set System 6 5. Photograph of the 35/50-mm Projectile 7 6. Schematic of HE-TF Projectile 8 7. Schematic of Infantry Squad Traveling Column Formation 11 8. Photograph of Infantry Squad Traveling Column Formation 11 9. Schematic of ATGM Site 12 10. Photograph of ATGM Site 12 11. Photograph of Gun Arrangements 14 12. Photograph of All Targets for AHEAD Shotline 15 13. Fragments on 20-m * 30-m Tarp for the AHEAD Projectile (Shot No. 1) 20 14. Fragments on 20-m x 30-m Tarp for the AHEAD Projectile (Shot No. 2) 21 15. Fragments on 20-m x 30-m Tarp for the HE-TF Projectile (Shot No. 1) 22 16. Fragments on 20-m x 30-m Tarp for the HE-TF Projectile (Shot No. 2) 23 17. Fragments for the AHEAD Projectile With Witness Panels (Shot No. 3) 24 18. Fragments for the AHEAD Projectile With Witness Panels (Shot No. 4) 25 19. Fragments for the HE-TF Projectile With Witness Panels (Shot No. 3) 26 Vll Figure Page 20. Fragments for the HE-TF Projectile With Witness Panels (Shot No. 4) 27 21. Perforations of 1/16-in Mild-Steel Witness Panel From AHEAD Projectile 28 22. Perforations of 1/16-in Mild-Steel Witness Panel From HE-TF Projectile 29 23. Photograph of AHEAD Projectile Impacts on Front of Helicopter 31 24. Photograph of AHEAD Projectile Impacts on Rear of Helicopter 31 25. Photograph of HE-TF Projectile Impacts on Front of Helicopter 32 26. Fragment Impacts of Six-Shot AHEAD Projectile on Troop Formation 33 27. Perforations of Flack Vest From AHEAD Projectile 34 28. Photograph of Troop Formation Silhouette With AHEAD Projectile 34 29. Fragment Impacts of Multishot HE-TF Projectile on Troop Formation 36 30. Photograph of Troop Formation Silhouette With HE-TF Projectile 37 31. Photograph of ATGM Site Impacted With AHEAD Projectile 37 32. Photograph of ATGM Site Impacted With HE-TF Projectile 38 33. Photograph of ATGM Site Impacted With M792 PD Projectile 38 34. Photograph of BMP Vehicle From Side Impacted With AHEAD and HE-TF Projectiles 40 35. Photograph of BMP Vehicle Engine Cover Impacted With Both Projectiles .... 40 36. Photograph of BMP Vehicle "Optics" Impacted With AHEAD Projectile 41 37. Photograph of BMP Vehicle Turret With Direct Impact of HE-TF Projectile ... 41 Vlll