Lightweight_.50_Cal_Ammunition_Tech_Req.pdf

Lightweight .50 Caliber Ammunition Technical Requirements

All technical requirements are derived from the M33 cartridge in the DODIC A555 configuration (linked M33 cartridges)

1. Weight Savings: A belt of 100 Lightweight .50 Caliber cartridges with 101 links shall have a threshold overall weight of 24.6 lbs. or 15% weight savings compared to the legacy A555 configuration (T). A belt of 100 lightweight cartridges with 101 links shall have an objective overall weight savings of more than 20.3 lbs. or 30% compared to the legacy A555 configuration (O).

2. REACH Compliance: A Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) compliant propellant and materials formulation shall be used in the construction of Lightweight .50 Caliber ammunition. Additional information on REACH compliance can be found at https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach/understanding-reach.

(T=O)

3. Ballistics requirements: All ballistic requirements listed are for the M33 Projectile and represent the current requirement for that cartridge. All ballistic testing will be conducted in accordance with DTL 13038145, Detail Specification, Item Specification for the Multi- Small Caliber Ammunition Test Procedures (M-SCATP). Testing for Action time, Muzzle Velocity, and Chamber Pressure shall be conducted concurrently using the equipment specified in DTL 13038145, specifically the barrel and chamber defined in ARDEC Drawings 12983006 and 6535473. Dispersion testing shall be conducted from the rifle specified in ARDEC Drawing 6545968. (T=O)

a) Action Time: The action time (overall primer ignition, propellant burning, plus the time taken for the bullet to exit the barrel) of the `````````````````````````````cartridge, when conditioned and functioned at 70°±2°F, shall be not greater than 4 milliseconds (ms).

b) Muzzle Velocity: The average velocity of the 30 cartridges when conditioned and functioned at 70°F±2°F shall be 2,905 feet per second (fps) ± 30 fps at 78 feet from the muzzle of the weapon. The standard deviation of the velocity shall not exceed 36 fps.

i) Muzzle Velocity at Extreme Temperatures:

(1) Hot: The average velocity of the 30 sample cartridges subjected to 145°F ± 2°F storage conditions shall not vary from the average velocity of the sample cartridges of the same lot conditioned at 70°F ± 2°F by more than plus (+) 125 ft/sec.

(2) Cold: The average velocity of the 30 sample cartridges subjected to -50°F ± 2°F storage conditions shall not vary from the average velocity of the sample cartridges of the same lot conditioned at 70°F ± 2°F by more than minus (-) 150 ft/sec.

c) Chamber Pressure: The average chamber pressure of the 30 sample cartridges when conditioned and functioned at 70°±2°F shall not exceed 65,000 psi.

i) Chamber Pressure at Extreme Temperatures:

(1) Hot: The average chamber pressure of the 30 sample cartridges when conditioned and functioned at 145°±2°F shall not exceed 65,250 psi nor vary by more than https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach/understanding-reach

RFI M67854-18-I-5223

Page Page 2 of 4 plus or minus (±) 7,250 psi from the average chamber pressure of the sample cartridges of the same lot tested at ambient temperature.

(2) Cold: The average chamber pressure of 30 the sample cartridges when conditioned and functioned at -50°±2°F shall not exceed 65,250 psi nor vary by more than plus or minus (±) 7,250 psi from the average chamber pressure of the sample cartridges of the same lot tested at ambient temperature.

d) Dispersion: The average of the mean radii of all targets of 100 sample cartridges, fired in 10 short groups, at 600 yards, shall be not greater than 12.0 inches or, when fired at 200 yards, shall be not greater than 3.75 inches.

4. Assembled Cartridge Characteristics: All assembled cartridge requirements listed are with the M33 Projectile and represent the current requirement for that cartridge. All ballistic testing will be conducted in accordance with DTL 13038145, Detail Specification, Item Specification for the Multi-Small Caliber Ammunition Test Procedures (M-SCATP). (T=O)

e) Overall Length: The overall length of the cartridge shall be 5.450 (+0.000,-0.050) inches.

f) Case head dimensions: The cartridge’s case head dimensions will be made to the dimensions shown in ARDEC drawing 5502646.

g) Headstamp: The cartridge shall have a headstamp that display’s the manufacturer’s code and year of manufacture. The headstamp markings shall meet the requirements of ARDEC drawing 5502646.

h) Waterproofness: The cartridge shall not release more than one bubble of air when subjected to a pressure differential of 7.5 pounds per square inch (psi) for 30 seconds.

i) Bullet Extraction: The force required to separate the bullet from the cartridge case shall not be less than 200 pounds.

5. Weapon Compatibility: All weapon compatibility, function and casualty requirements listed are with the M33 Projectile and represent the current requirement for that cartridge. All ballistic testing will be conducted in accordance with DTL 13038145, Detail Specification, Item Specification for the Multi-Small Caliber Ammunition Test Procedures (M-SCATP). The cartridge shall reliably function the weapons listed in Table 1. (T=O)

Table 1: Required Weapon Compatibility

Weapon Nomenclature NSN M2HB Machine Gun, CAL .50, Heavy Barrel (HB) M2 1005-00-322-9715 M2A1 Machine Gun, Caliber .50: M2A1,W/ Fixed Headspace and Timing 1005-01-511-1250

GAU-19 Gun, Aircraft, Unit-19 1005-01-560-2160

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GAU-21 Gun, Aircraft, Unit-21 1005-12-118-7052 M107 Rifle, .50 Caliber, Sniper: M107 1005-01-469-2133

6. Reliability: All reliability requirements listed are with the M33 Projectile and represent the current Requirement for that cartridge. All ballistic testing will be conducted in accordance with DTL 13038145, Detail Specification, Item Specification for the Multi-Small Caliber Ammunition Test Procedures (M-SCATP). The cartridge shall have a demonstrated threshold reliability of 99.5% with a minimum sample of 2,000 cartridges through the M2HB and M2A1 over the relevant temperature ranges (T). The cartridge shall have a demonstrated reliability greater than 99.8% with a minimum test sample of 6,800 cartridges (O) over relevant temperature ranges. A sample function and casualty test matrix is shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Sample Function and Casualty Test Matrix

Temperature Test Weapon Mount -50°F ± 2°F +70°F ± 2°F +145°F ± 2°F

M2HB #1 Flex 200 400 200 M2HB #2 Flex 200 400 200 M2A1 #1 Flex 200 400 200 M2A1 #2 Flex 200 400 200 GAU-19/A #1 Ground 200 400 200 GAU-19/A #2 Ground 200 400 200 GAU-21/A #1 Aircraft 200 400 200 GAU-21/A #2 Aircraft 200 400 200 M107 #1 N/A 50 100 50 M107 #2 N/A 50 100 50

7. Durability: All durability requirements listed are with the M33 Projectile and represent the current requirement for that cartridge. The lightweight cartridge shall be designed so that it can withstand the environments listed in Table 3 and retain its reliability (T=O).

Table 3: Harsh Environments Environment Test Method Salt Fog MIL-STD-810G, 509.6 Solar Radiation MIL-STD-810G, 505.6 Procedure II Low Pressure Altitude MIL-STD-810G, 500.6 Procedure III Temperature Shock MIL-STD-810G, 503.6 Procedure I-C Sand Erosion MIL-STD-801G, 510.6 Procedure II Abbreviated Sequential Tactical Environments

(1)MIL-STD-810G, 514.7 Category 4

(2) TOP-4-2-016, 2.1m drop

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(3) MIL-STD-331C, Loose Cargo Vibration

8. Hazard Classification: The lightweight cartridge shall maintain the current hazard classification of DODIC A555, 1.4C, “Explosives with no significant blast hazard” when tested to the requirements in NAVSEAINST 8020.8C (T=O).

9. Toxic Fumes: A 50 cartridge belt of lightweight cartridges, fired in strings of ten cartridges, shall not generate toxic fumes that exceed 20% of 8-hour, Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) of any of the substances listed by OSHA (https://www.osha.gov/dsg/annotated- pels/tablez-1.html). (T=O)

10. Cook-Off: The lightweight cartridge shall not cook-off when exposed to the hot-gun environment of 400°F (Threshold) or 600°F (Objective) when tested to the requirement in

TOP-04-016. (T=O)

11. ESD: The lightweight cartridge shall be certified Electro Static Discharge safe for personnel (25 kV) and helicopter-born (300 kV) static discharge per NAVSEAINST 8020.19 (T=O).

https://www.osha.gov/dsg/annotated-%20%20%20pels/tablez-1.html