Soft-Recovery Module for Precision Artillery

The development of precision artillery fires has led to the incorporation of advanced electronics, guidance and control systems, and aerodynamic control surfaces into artillery projectiles and fuzes.As part of the development process, individual components, subsystems, and full prototypes must be exposed to the extreme loads generated during gun launch.Current test methods developed by the DOD and industry do not adequately capture the full spectrum of forces an artillery projectile is subject to when it is fired. The proposed soft recovery system will enable the ammunition RDT&E community to expose developmental precision munition components to actual gun launch conditions.Components to be tested are mounted in their operational location on a specially designed 155mm projectile which is fired from a howitzer in a nearly vertical orientation.The soft recovery system deploys while the projectile is in flight and safely lands the components for post-test evaluation.The proposed system will shorten the development time of advanced munition components and substantially reduce the cost of development.