Enhanced Firing Solutions for the Mortar Environment

Orbital Research, with Blue Diamond LLC, will investigate the mortar weapon system and provide high payoff concepts to increase the range and accuracy of the mortar. Through a comprehensive and multi-disciplined approach the Team will study the internal and external ballistics of each design solution and allow for down selection of those that have the highest payoff and minimal modification to heritage systems. Orbitals initial concepts include a MET sensor package that will provide up to date meteorological data (wind velocity, air density, air temperature) that will be sent to fire control to increase accuracy/precision of the mortar by up 15-20%. In addition to this, the Team will investigate and quantify the risk/benefit of other approaches to improving the accuracy of the system. This will allow for updated fire solutions ensure improved chances of placing effects on target with the first shot. In addition to hardware improvements the Team will investigate software and algorithm improvements that provide the user with real time interface capabilities to the weapon and improved fire solutions. Together with Blue Diamonds experience as end users, the Team will identify the solution(s) most feasible and provide a logical path towards demonstration in follow on phases.