Focused Miniature Ordnance Technologies

This proposal describes two technical objectives and a detailed work plan to demonstrate the fundamental mechanisms and capability that will enable a new technology base for focused miniature ordnance. The first technical objective is to develop and test a new multiphase blast explosive composition. This addresses the program goal for compact, high-energy-density munitions with a precisely controlled lethality radius. The second technical objective is to demonstrate a scalable, multifunctional kill concept. This addresses the program goal of a warhead capable of producing a predominately forward, focused, fragment field with the additional option for selectable enhanced blast or fragment effects for functional defeat of different target sets. This proposal leverages recent advances in developing a novel class of high-energy-density, modified explosives that are candidates for selectable effects munitions. The baseline composition consists of equal parts of nanometer and micrometer aluminum in a stoichimetric mixture with perfluoropolyether. It has a mass density of 2.1 g/cc and a total energy release of 34 kJ/cc. We will extend this baseline composition to mass densities of 5 g/cc and energy densities of 42 kJ/cc, while exploring innovative initiation schemes to achieve the overall program goals. BENEFIT: Examples of dual-use military and commercial applications, the proposed concept could be used for: (1) low collateral damage explosive defeat of IEDs and VBIEDs for domestic bomb squads or law enforcement operations; (2) novel energetic materials and initiation mechanisms for down-hole perforation operations in the oil production industry; and (3) controlled collateral effects for explosive demolition operations.