Small Arms, Pulsed Electronic Tetanization at Extended Range (SPECTER) Munition

The Phase II technical effort will extend the Phase I design concept to functional, range tested prototypes.  SPECTER is packaged into a saboted, 2.75-inch shotshell with reduced powder charge capable of being fired from any 12-gauge pump action shotgun.  Distribution of mass and aerodynamic features create ballistic stability by locating the center of mass forward of the center of pressure and by inducing spin during free flight.  Ballistics showed a max trajectory aim adjustment of 57 centimeters at 100 meters with a muzzle velocity of 150 meters per second and 100-meter weapon zero.  As these munitions will likely be deployed from short barrel breeching shotguns, a dedicated low power scope with Minute-of-Angle of Mil-dot reticle zeroed at 50 meters will allow the operator to engage targets at extended distance.   Approximately 90 percent of all components can be additively manufactured with minimal post-processing, creating cost flexibility as production volume fluctuates.  Total mass of the Phase I design is 416 grain, comparable to other 12-gauge munitions.  Muzzle velocity is approximately one-fifth that of common 12-gauge ammunition.  Activation of the Electrode Deployment System sheds 36 percent of total munition mass and further reduces blunt impact injury through conservation of momentum.  Viscous Criterion analysis showed 5-10 percent expected probability of a target sustaining second-degree Abbreviated Injury Scale blunt impact injury, consistent with other non-lethal crowd control munitions.  The Phase II technical effort is structured to minimize technical and programmatic risks on a subsystem level prior to all-up munition integration.  Phase II culminates with a live-fire exercise with instrumentation to quantify munition performance.