1. 39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
SUMMARY OF THE ADVANCED KE PENETRATOR FOR THE ALACV STO Tim Farrand Lee Magness US Army Research Laboratory April 14, 2004
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

2. 39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
Supporting Cast
Tim Farrand & Lee Magness WMRD –Terminal Ballistics
Robert Shnidman, John Abell SLAD - wit pack analysis/reduction
Jodi Roberston, Rob Gangler, SLAD – LoF systematic analysis &
Jim Strobel (ret), experimental LoF
Aivars Ozolins (Oz)
Experimental facility WMRD – target/wit pack set-up and execution
Shops WMRD – manufacture targets, sabots, etc.
SLAD – witness packs assemble & reduction
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

3. 39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
Overview of ALACV KE
Initial Paper Study
Quantify STO requirement
Establish Experimental Methodology
Iterative Progression of Penetrator Design
Terminal Ballistic evaluations
BAD Analysis
Final Design
Monolithic
ENLE
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

4. STO Objectives - Exit Criteria Advanced KE
Develop and demonstrate advanced KE penetrators using tungsten or other alternative materials
Exit Criteria:
Achieve a 30% increase in behind armor effects (BAE) over a baseline APFSDS penetrator.
Relate a 30% increase in the combined (BAE) to an increase in Probability of Kill (Pk) of 10% over the baseline.
Novel Penetrators
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

5. Quantified 30% BAE Increase
MF-KILL VS CALIBER
UPPER LIMIT
A SLAD Parametric Study of lightly armored vehicle
GOAL
30% of
Difference
Measure: an approximate 10% increase in
Loss of Function for this system
10% Overall Increase
Goal: 30% increase in BAE
Loss of Function
BASELINE
Penetrator Size
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

6. Establish Experimental Methodology
Use one range target for down select of Penetrator Designs
- modified vehicle description
EXAMPLE
ONE RANGE TGT
MODIFY TGT
(Swap Ammo &Crew)
Final Target Model
One Range Target (impact location)
Modify Interior of Vehicle
Produced Similar Results to a Cardioid Average
Good Representative Target
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

7. 39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
Data Analysis
RADIOGRAPHS
Examine Penetrator Performance
Qualify penetrator failure mechanisms
Estimate Defeat Range
Evaluate Behind Armor Effects
Penetrator and Target
WITNESS PANELS
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

8. 39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
Design Iterations
Design Iterations # Shots
1 scaled design
2 alternate designs – ENLE 35
2a supplement w/ mission evaluations
(Magness) 30
3 ENLE designs 26
4 Material & Geometry mods 35
5 ENLE mods
6 ENLE mods (fins – dia) 15
7 Final design w/ baseline 71
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

9. Behind Armor Debris (Phase 1 & 2)
Green WHA Baseline
Red DU
Black Phase 1
Blue Phase 2
Medium Overmatches
ENLE greater Behind Armor Effects
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

10. Loss of Function for Range Target (Phase 1 & 2)
SURVIVABILITY/LETHALITY ANALYSIS DIRECTORATE
Increase Behind Armor Effects
At Closer Ranges
UPPER LIMIT A D B G E C F H
BASELINE
Loose Defeat Range Slightly
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

11. Behind Armor Debris (Phase 3) ENLE greater Behind Armor Effects
Medium Overmatches
ENLE greater Behind Armor Effects
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

12. Modeling / Analysis Final Design
Modify Perforation models for specific Mono & ENLE designs
Develop BAD models for MONO & ENLE
Input Perforation and BAD models into Lethality Target Model
Run Lethality Target Model for:
All angles of attack
Average for frontal 60o arc & Cardioid average
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

13. ENLE shows slight improvement at “medium” overmatches
Behind Armor Debris
(Final Design)
ENLE shows slight improvement
at “medium” overmatches
ENLE
250 – 800 m/s
Red – ENLE
Black – MONO
Obliquity
Targets
Simple
Complex
Shapes
Solid
Hollow
Eroded to ENLE
Did Not
Erode to ENLE
Depleted
Rod
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

14. Implementation of Increased Penetrator Fragments
SURVIVABILITY/LETHALITY ANALYSIS DIRECTORATE
If Residual Velocity is between 250 – 800 m/s
then Fragments are Effective
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

15. System Engagement Weighting Averages
SURVIVABILITY/LETHALITY ANALYSIS DIRECTORATE
12.5
8.4
17.25
4.2
2.75
10.05
.75
29.25
1.2
13.65
0.0
0.0
13.65
1.2
29.25
.75
10.05
4.2
2.75
17.25
8.4
12.5
FRONTAL
CARDIOID
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

16. Final Results (Cardioid Average)
SURVIVABILITY/LETHALITY ANALYSIS DIRECTORATE
Increase in Behind Armor Effects
Counterbalanced by Decrease
in Defeat Range
ENLE
Performance is
best at Close Range
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

17. Final Results (Frontal Attack)
SURVIVABILITY/LETHALITY ANALYSIS DIRECTORATE
Effects Exaggerated
For Tougher Target Areas
ENLE
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004

18. 39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
Conclusions
Completed Experimental Evaluation
>205 shots fired – perforation & BAD
>175 shots BAD – examine witness packs
Modified Lethality Model is a very useful tool
Range Target
Modified Description
ALACV Advanced KE Improvement
Highly Dependent on Overmatch
Target
Range
39th Gun & Ammunition Symposium
April 13-16, 2004