Perchlorate Elimination in M274 2.75' Practice Rocket Warhead Smoke Charge

摘要

The current M274 2.75" Practice (Training) Rocket Warhead contains perchlorate-base smoke composition to generate flash and smoke signature on warhead impact. Concerning perchlorate's potential human health and ecological impacts, a collaborative R&D effort led by the Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) was initiated to eliminate this material from the M274 system, as a part of the Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Ordnance Environmental Quality Technology (EQT) program. This effort was executed in two phases. In phase 1, two previously government developed perchlorate-free flash/smoke formulations were selected for warhead static performance test and evaluation against the baseline. The collaborative team down selected the ARDEC 604 formulation consisting of potassium nitrate pre-blend, aluminum and sulfur as the final replacement candidate at the conclusion of this phase based on the performance data. The selection was substantiated by the results from the bulk material burn characteristics test and USACHPPM's health hazard assessment on the compositions. In phase 2, twenty-four each of the perchlorate-free and baseline M274 warheads were fabricated for firing with a MK66 rocket motor from a ground M261 light weight launcher to a distance of 6000 meters. The ballistic test results for the 604 formulation are satisfactory, meeting the M274 system performance requirements, under both day and night environments. This composition can be safely manufactured at the current M274 warhead production facility with no modifications to the existing line. It is stable and compatible to each of smoke tube cartridge assembly components.