Developing New Insensitive Munitions Packaging Solutions for Missile Defense

Driven partly by a succession of catastrophic accidents, the U.S. armed services began insensitive munitions (IM) technology development some time ago. However, most of these efforts to date, including new packaging technologies, have focused on tactical applications such as bombs, small missiles, and tank ammunition, and have effectively left the large solid-fueled rocket IM state-of-the-art dangerously far behind. Mechanical Solutions, Inc.'s (MSI) proposed project will develop a system of complimentary mechanical designs that will bring IM technology to large solid rocket motor (SRM) packaging. Generally the most common IM threat to large SRMs is unplanned thermal energy input from sources such as external fires or from the friction of penetrating bullets and projectiles, which can cause the propellant to auto-ignite. MSI's IM packaging system will consist of simple, reliable, shape memory alloy activated vents located strategically to eliminate confinement, a layer of light weight syntactic foam to provide substantial impact energy absorption and thermal insulation, an outer ballistic layer for additional high velocity fragment impact protection, and an internal solid lubricant transfer system to reduce friction heat energy if projectile penetration of the SRM occurs. These individual threat-optimized IM technologies will function together to create a comprehensive IM packaging system.