Payload Expulsion for Hardened-Target Penetrators

The objective of the proposed program is to develop a payload expulsion system for a munition capable of attacking hardened high-value targets far underground. Munition payloads will be specially designed to neutralize/defeat specific targets, such asfacilities pertaining to weapons of mass destruction, without causing excessive collateral damage. Based on information generated by a sophisticated fuze, the expulsion system is required to eject the payload at near-zero velocity relative to the voidtarget space. The proposed Phase II effort will design, develop and demonstrate a propellant charge and smart ignition system capable of creating a range of expulsion velocities relative to the penetrating munition as required to achieve zero velocity in the voidspace. Much of the experimental work will be performed at mid (40 percent) scale; however, the Phase II effort will result in the design and test of the critical components for a full-scale expulsion system. A simulation capability that includes theparameters and physical phenomena of the expulsion event will be developed and validated using mid-scale and full-scale test data to provide a solid foundation for Phase III munition development.