ATK SADARM Smart Munition Hardware Performs Successfully in U.S. Army Reliability Tests
Apr 10, 2000
ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE: ATK) said the hardware it provides for the Sense and Destroy Armor (SADARM) precision artillery munition performed successfully during Reliability Determination/Assurance Program (RDAP) technical tests, which were completed in March at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona.
Alliant Integrated Defense Company is teamed with prime contractor Aerojet on the SADARM program. It provides the system's active and passive millimeter wave sensors, two-stage parachute, and fuze safe-and-arm device, and is responsible for final integration and delivery.
Randy Strobush, SADARM program director, Alliant Integrated Defense Company, said the reliability program was an outstanding success.
"The results have been very responsive to requirements set by Congress, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Army for reliability improvement," said Strobush. "System reliability improved from 44 percent to 77 percent across all operating temperature extremes in less than 14 months. Going into the RDAP tests, nobody would have dreamed we would achieve 75 direct hits from 62 tactical SADARM projectiles. This is a direct result of applying solid engineering discipline at ATK and Aerojet, including running sophisticated computer models to identify design margins, instituting rigorous process controls, and subjecting all hardware to overstress testing."
The next critical milestone for SADARM is the Limited User Test (LUT), which will test the SADARM system at the extreme corner of its operational envelope. Based on how SADARM performed in the reliability test, the system should exceed operational effectiveness requirements during LUT, which is scheduled for April 11 through May 2.
According to Strobush, the SADARM program enables ATK to apply some of its most important core capabilities to the development of smarter and more affordable weapon systems.
"ATK pioneered the use of millimeter wave radar that can withstand harsh gun launches in smart weapons systems such as SADARM," said Strobush. "It is gratifying for our engineering and program management team to see the results of their hard work and technical accomplishments validated in these successful firing tests. We are proud to play a role in bringing this revolutionary new precision strike capability to America's field artillery."
The 1st of the 17th Field Artillery from the Army's artillery headquarters at Ft. Sill, Okla. has been selected to participate in the LUT phase, which will be conducted at the Yuma Proving Grounds. The unit will fire SADARM projectiles against camouflaged and dug-in targets.
The LUT phase will initiate stockpiling of the SADARM system until a new product improved version is fielded. The program is expected to transition to full-scale production following the completion of LUT.
SADARM is a fire-and-forget, multi-sensor smart munition designed to destroy armored vehicles such as self-propelled artillery. SADARM uses active and passive millimeter wave and infrared sensors to detect targets from above in any weather and attack with an explosively formed penetrator. Its two submunitions descend by parachute, allowing the sensors to search an area roughly the size of four football fields.
In addition to artillery projectiles, SADARM easily adapts to other carriers such as rockets and surface-to-surface or air-to-surface missiles.
Alliant Integrated Defense Company, Hopkins, Minn., is a leading developer and producer of infantry weapons, smart artillery systems, special operations demolitions, anti-tank barrier systems, and secure electronics subsystems. It is one of four operating companies within ATK's Defense Systems business segment, which reported fiscal year 1999 revenues of $224 million.
ATK is a $1.1 billion aerospace and defense company with leading market positions in munitions, solid propulsion, composite structures, and precision electronic fuzes. The company, which is headquartered in Hopkins, Minn., employs approximately 5,800 people and has three business segments: Conventional Munitions, Aerospace, and Defense Systems. ATK news and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/
SOURCE: Alliant Techsystems
Contact: Media, Rod Bitz, 612-931-5413, rod_bitz@atk.com, or Investors,
Melanie E. R. Miller, 612-931-6921, melanie_miller@atk.com, both of Alliant Techsystems
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