Insensitive Munitions Technology Development

The concept of Insensitive Munitions, or IM, is not new; the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has been working to improve the safety of munitions since their inception. The first NATO standard on IM, STANAG 4439: Policy for Introduction and Assessment of IM, was published for ratification in 1995 an...

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Main Authors: Ernest L. BAKER, Anthony R. DI STASIO
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Military University of Technology, Warsaw 2014-12-01
Series:Problemy Mechatroniki
Subjects:
Online Access:http://publisherspanel.com/gicid/01.3001.0002.5136
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author Ernest L. BAKER
Anthony R. DI STASIO
author_facet Ernest L. BAKER
Anthony R. DI STASIO
author_sort Ernest L. BAKER
collection DOAJ
description The concept of Insensitive Munitions, or IM, is not new; the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has been working to improve the safety of munitions since their inception. The first NATO standard on IM, STANAG 4439: Policy for Introduction and Assessment of IM, was published for ratification in 1995 and was ratified in 1998. U.S. Congress passed the „Insensitive Munitions law” in 2001 that specifically requires „The Secretary of Defense [to] ensure, to the extent practicable, that insensitive munitions under deployment or procurement are safe throughout development and fielding when subject to unplanned stimuli”. These unplanned stimuli take the form of rapid or slow heating events, such as a fuel fire on a vehicle or aircraft, or an adjacent fire in a vehicle or storage magazine; impact by fragment or bullets due to shrapnel from nearby explosions or small arms fire from combat or terrorist events; sympathetic reaction due to the detonation of adjacent munitions; and shaped charge jet attack from rocket-propelled grenade or similar weapons used by enemy and friendly forces. In 2007, U.S. DoD focused its efforts on developing joint solutions through a centrally managed IM technology program: the Joint IM Technology Program (JIMTP). There have been numerous JIMTP IM technology development successes and transitions to munition systems. The U.S. DoD will continue to develop new munitions to meet increased performance requirements to respond to various threats and enable lethality overmatch in any scenario. Using today's available technology to obtain higher performance typically translates to a worse IM response. As a result, the U.S. DoD will continue to develop IM technology in order to assure safety and reduced vulnerability while improving munitions performance.
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spelling doaj-art-4fc30c5d7e2e4a3bbf2b6cab582145252025-08-20T02:50:33ZengMilitary University of Technology, WarsawProblemy Mechatroniki2081-58912014-12-015472010.5604/20815891.113835901.3001.0002.5136Insensitive Munitions Technology DevelopmentErnest L. BAKER0Anthony R. DI STASIO1US Army ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000 USAUS Army ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000 USAThe concept of Insensitive Munitions, or IM, is not new; the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has been working to improve the safety of munitions since their inception. The first NATO standard on IM, STANAG 4439: Policy for Introduction and Assessment of IM, was published for ratification in 1995 and was ratified in 1998. U.S. Congress passed the „Insensitive Munitions law” in 2001 that specifically requires „The Secretary of Defense [to] ensure, to the extent practicable, that insensitive munitions under deployment or procurement are safe throughout development and fielding when subject to unplanned stimuli”. These unplanned stimuli take the form of rapid or slow heating events, such as a fuel fire on a vehicle or aircraft, or an adjacent fire in a vehicle or storage magazine; impact by fragment or bullets due to shrapnel from nearby explosions or small arms fire from combat or terrorist events; sympathetic reaction due to the detonation of adjacent munitions; and shaped charge jet attack from rocket-propelled grenade or similar weapons used by enemy and friendly forces. In 2007, U.S. DoD focused its efforts on developing joint solutions through a centrally managed IM technology program: the Joint IM Technology Program (JIMTP). There have been numerous JIMTP IM technology development successes and transitions to munition systems. The U.S. DoD will continue to develop new munitions to meet increased performance requirements to respond to various threats and enable lethality overmatch in any scenario. Using today's available technology to obtain higher performance typically translates to a worse IM response. As a result, the U.S. DoD will continue to develop IM technology in order to assure safety and reduced vulnerability while improving munitions performance.http://publisherspanel.com/gicid/01.3001.0002.5136Insensitive MunitionsExplosivesSafety
spellingShingle Ernest L. BAKER
Anthony R. DI STASIO
Insensitive Munitions Technology Development
Problemy Mechatroniki
Insensitive Munitions
Explosives
Safety
title Insensitive Munitions Technology Development
title_full Insensitive Munitions Technology Development
title_fullStr Insensitive Munitions Technology Development
title_full_unstemmed Insensitive Munitions Technology Development
title_short Insensitive Munitions Technology Development
title_sort insensitive munitions technology development
topic Insensitive Munitions
Explosives
Safety
url http://publisherspanel.com/gicid/01.3001.0002.5136
work_keys_str_mv AT ernestlbaker insensitivemunitionstechnologydevelopment
AT anthonyrdistasio insensitivemunitionstechnologydevelopment