XP®: A cost effective approach for medium

calibre insensitive munitions

IMEMTS 2010
October 11-14, 2010
NEXTER Munitions C. Coulouarn, R. Boulanger, D. Bouchaud
Etablissement de Bourges
7, route de Guerry
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18023 Bourges cedex
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c.coulouarn@nexter-group.fr

Contents

Context of the study and objectives

Low vulnerability and energetic material formulations

– Hazard characterizations
– Detonic performances

Industrial transfers

IM tests

Dynamic and static firings

Summary and conclusions

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Context of the study (1)

Objectives of this study

– To develop an explosive composition

• Pressable at room temperature
• Best cost-effectiveness

– To meet required performances

• Explosive composition compatible with wide range of munitions:
• Medium calibre, warhead, booster,...
• Compliant with the STANAG 4439 with respect to the munitions

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Context of the study (2)

Applications
– DGA project: Anti Aircraft Warhead

AA Warhead

– Booster applications

booster
Booster
30 x 113 Supersafe

– Medium calibre applications

• 25 x137 HEI Airburst

• 30 x113 Supersafe
• 40 CTA: GPR-PD and GPR-AB

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Case study: CTAI cased telescoped ammunition

40 mm ammunition developed by CTAI
– CTAI JV is dedicated to developing and promoting the 40 mm Cased
Telescoped Armament System.

– Development of the GPR round: NEXTER munitions in charge of explosive

filling

40 mm CTAI

Explosive NEXTER
composition Munitions’
responsibility

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Low vulnerability explosive composition approach

Objectives: explosive composition intended for medium calibre
ammunition

No explosive composition with :

State of the art
High production capability new vulnerability
existing
Uniaxial compression at room temperature composition
explosive compositions
Cost objectives development

IM requirements

Targeted performances

Detonics Properties Mechanical properties

Unconfined
Young's
Density ρ VoD Critical Gap Test LSGT Stress max
Targeted Modulus
diameter
performances
Between 200 and
> 1.8 g.cm-3 > 7800 m.s-1 < 10 mm < 10 MPa < 2000 MPa
275 cards

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Energetic material formulation

NTO/RDX based compositions
– Developed and optimized with the help of experimental designs
– Compromise between NTO/RDX/Aluminium: optimal conditions

%NTO
RDX
Using calculation tools
Laboratory - VOD
scale NTO - Density & CJ pressure
- Sensitivity criterion
Experimental tests
Al - initiation tests
- VOD

%RDX %Al

1 composition

Safety characterization, detonic

performances evaluation
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Energetic material characterization

Hazards characterization: basic safety tests
Impact ESD sensitivity
Friction sensitivity
50% Go results AFNOR standard
sensitivity
Friction sensitivity 0% at 353 N NF T 70 503
Electrostatic discharges 367 mJ NF T 70 539
Impact sensitivity 30% at 50 J NF T 70 500

 Low sensitivity to basic stimuli

Mechanical properties evaluation

XP3264®
Mechanical properties
Stress max Young's Modulus
®
XP3264 at 20°C
9,8 MPa 607 MPa

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Energetic material characterization

Detonation velocity and unconfined critical diameter
15 10 5

> 7900 m.s-1 Less than 5 mm

XP3264®

Gap Test ISGT Detonator

Donor: HCG 95/5/0,5 CH

iSGT result: 230 cards
# Cellulose acetate cards gap
Pressure in acetate: 22,8 kbar
Steel tube

Acceptor : XP3264® ∅ 73 mm H: 280 mm

STANAG 4488 Witness plate

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Energetic material characterization

Summary of properties for XP3264® explosive

Detonics Properties Mechanical properties

Detonation Unconfined Critical Young's

Density ρ VoD Gap Test iSGT Stress max
pressure diameter Modulus

Targeted Between 200 and

> 1.8 g.cm-3 > 7800 m.s-1 < 10 mm < 10 MPa < 2000 MPa
performances 275 cards

Recorded
perfomances 1.82 g.cm-3 7921 m.s-1 285 kBar < 5 mm 230 cards 9,8 MPa 607 MPa
XP3264®

French MoD (DGA) certification

XP3264® homologation according to STANAG 4170 will be delivered at the end of 2010.

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Transfer and qualification to industrial process
Coated process

XP3264® agglomerates

~ 5000 kg /year
Industrial Multi-pressed positions
scale

Dedicated workshop

Explosive composition XP3264® 40 mm CTAI ammunition

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IM tests (STANAG 4439) – Results (cartridge)

Bullet Impact test
Witness plate

850 m.s-1

12.7 mm AP type M2

STANAG 4241
Type V

Shaped Charge Jet Impact: CCEB 62

Type III

STANAG 4526

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IM tests (STANAG 4439) – Results (cartridge)

Sympathetic reaction: 2 configurations tested
acceptor acceptor

Witness plate

Type V Donor
Donor

Witness plate Aluminium plate,

8 mm thickness
AR

d = 19mm
R
A D R
A
D AR
d = 38mm d = 38mm
d d d d
1 40 mm configuration d= 7 mm
without any packaging
2 Feed slot ammunition configuration
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IM tests (STANAG 4439) – Results (cartridge)

Slow Cook Off: 2 configurations (slope 3.3°C/h)

Type IV

horizontally STANAG 4382

Vertically

Cartridge opening

Fast Cook Off

Type V

STANAG 4240

Cartridge opening
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40 MM GPR IM signature
SIGNATURE GPR 40 CTA
Threat
Reaction level
STANAG FH SH BI SR FI SCJI Fast Heating
4439 FH
I Detonation SH Slow Heating
V
II Partial BI Bullet Impact

Reaction level
detonation IV
SR Sympathetic
III Explosion
compliant Reaction
III
IV Deflagration forbidden FI Fragment
Impact
Burning II
V SCJI Shaped
Charge Jet
I
Impact
XP3264®

Increase the safety level during storage, transport and handling phases

Increase the safety level for the vehicle’s crew during combat phase

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40 MM: static and dynamic firings

Static firing: fragmentation test

Water recovery Fragment

distribution

Example of dynamic firing

Fragment impacts in the wall X-Ray visualisation

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Conclusion

R&T activities
– Researching explosive formulations
– Explosive composition compliant with customer’s requirements

XP3264® characterization
– Low sensitivity (safety tests), detonation properties compliant with requirements
– XP homologation (STANAG 4170) in progress

Industrial transfer:
– Laboratory to industrial scale production qualified 40 mm CTA GPR
– Process robustness assessed in parallel are now filled
– A dedicated workshop built for mass production with XP3264®

Terminal efficiency
– Good fragmentation level observed with 40 mm recovery tests
– Confirmation with dynamic firing tests

IM signature (STANAG 4439)

– Significant increase of safety level,
– Full IM signature coming with qualification programme

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Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the DGA who are supporting the homologation

Thank you for your attention

QUESTIONS ?

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 XP®: A cost effective approach for medium
calibre insensitive munitions

IMEMTS 2010
October 11-14, 2010
C. Coulouarn, R. Boulanger, D. Bouchaud

This document is the property of NEXTER

IMEMTS 2010 The information it contains cannot be used, reproduced or communicated without their prior written agreement
11-14 october, 2010, Munich

Annex

XP 3264 Hexal STANAG

Friction sensitivity 41,7 J 21,7 J 4489

Impact sensitivity 0% at 353 N 263,1 N 4487

Electrostatic discharge 367 mJ 242 mJ 4490

Intermediate Scale Gap 230 Cards 275 Cards
4488
Test ~23,8 kPa ~15 kPa
Unconfied critical
< 5 mm 2 < < 3 mm AOP7
Diameter
> 7900 m/s 8230 m/s
Velocity of detonation AOP 7
at ρ=1,82 g/cm3 at ρ=1,81 g/cm3

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Annex
Velocity of
detonation (m/s)

8500

V350
Octontalite
Hexal
8000 XP3264 Rowanex1100

XF11585 B2237 ONTALITE

7500 PBXN109 XF12366

7000
XF13333

XF23192
6500

6000
Criterion
sensitivity
70 90 110 130 150 170
Kcal²/mol
Low sensitivity
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