L-101 The State of the Art of IM Design Technology

February 2004
Ian Powell (Mitigation Methods) , Pascal Marchandin (Warheads & Fuzes), Frédéric Peugeot (Warhead Technology)

NIMIC RESTRICTED  -  The report is restricted, the title and the abstract are unclassified, unlimited distribution

(U) From its initial concept in the 1970s, Insensitive Munitions (IM) have developed and are now recognized as one of the key considerations when designing and/or procuring munitions. The IM goals defined in AOP 39 and STANAG 4439 have provided much of the drive behind the progress made and there are now a wide range of different technologies and techniques that can be employed to reduce the vulnerability and response of munitions to unplanned stimuli.

(U) Throughout the NIMIC nations there is a general appreciation of the current state of the art of IM design. Presentations by government and industry have been given at various symposia over the years and NIMIC tools such as the Energetic Materials Compendium (EMC) and the electronic Mitigation Methods for Munitions (m3) have provided much up to date information. Although there is considerable published information, there is no single source that provides a snapshot of the current state of the art of IM design. Such a source would be an invaluable tool for both procurement bodies and munition designers, as it would enhance their awareness of potential new technologies for IM design. This would increase the scope for incorporating new or novel IM technologies within new or existing munitions. Furthermore, this would assist the NIMIC member nations in raising the profile of IM within the munition safety communities, munition design communities as well as munition procurement organizations, thereby providing further impetus in the drive towards IM inventories.

(U) A NIMIC workshop was conceived as an ideal forum to generate such a report. Consequently, a NIMIC IM Design Technology workshop was held in 2003 with the principal aim being to produce an IM design technology state of the art report. This document provides a summary of the workshop, its outputs and provides a detailed review of the current state of the art of IM design technology in chapters 2 to 6.

The aims of the workshop were to:

  • Identify the key design principles/techniques for producing IM
  • Provide an assessment of the current state of the art of IM design technology
  • Identify key areas where there are gaps/shortfalls in IM technology
  • Identify possible opportunities for collaborative Technology Demonstrators