Dual Mode Controlled Ricochet Low Loss EFV Cooling Grille(1001-046)

Triton Systems Inc. in collaboration with the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory will develop a controlled multiple ricochet ballistic grill for the USMC EFV that minimizes the required vane thickness and associated pressure drop through the grille. Two-stage baffling of the incoming threat allows the flow direction to be modified while still ensuring at least three strikes and downward exiting fragments. Advanced high hardness Titanium and Stainless Steel alloys are used to tailor the ricochet angles of the threat projectiles, while maintaining integrity against corrosion degradation in the salt air and water environments. Low emissivity coatings on the metallic elements minimize the vehicle IR signature increments. The controlled ricochet design will allow reductions of at least 50 pound in each of the (250 lb.) current ballistic grilles aboard the EFV. During the Phase I project, Triton will fabricate and ballistic test samples of the projectile baffles to validate the threat protection performance, while C.S. Draper Laboratory will perform extensive CFD and thermal response tradeoffs on the strawman grille design to guide the grille design and validate throughput and thermal performance. During the Phase II Triton will fabricate a prototype ballistic grille for installation and operational testing aboard an EFV.