Innovative Lightweight Hybrid Ammunition Container

Anholt proposes to combine a composite lightweight body with metallic endcaps and stacking flanges to reduce the weight and provide venting for Insensitive Munitions (IM). This marries the enhanced Cook-Off performance and lightweight benefits ofcomposites with the damage tolerance and sealability of metallic ends. In addition, it uses both materials in their most cost efficient forms. Pultruded composite tubing fabricated from low FST resins promises to provide high performance at the lowestpossible cost. In addition to steel, lightweight metals and metal foams will also be investigated for the metallic components. The concept applies to various size, cylindrical and rectangular containers. Anholt will base its design on the 2.75-inch Rocketcontainer.High-speed production volume composite-to-metal joining technologies will be investigated so that the Hybrid Container system can be produced in an economically viable manner.The Hybrid system will be designed to meet the 3 psi seal requirements of MIL-STD-1904 and improved Fast Cook-Off performance of MIL-STD-2105B. Anholt is confident that at least a 25% weight reduction will be achieved. The technology will be applicableto all FASTPACK containers as well as other cylindrical and rectangular containers. A Technology Demonstrators will be produced incorporating the preferred Hybrid solution. This effort will result in Hybrid metal/composite technology applicable to a variety of ammunition container shapes and sizes across the entire DoD inventory. This type of rugged, reusable shipping container can be suitable for commercial productswhenever they are shipped under adverse conditions. Sensitive machine components, electronics (which will also benefit from the container's static dissipation and EMI resistance), medical equipment and supplies are all potential cargo.