ATK and U.S. Army Mark Key Milestone in Development of Next-Generation Tactical Tank Ammunition Round
Completion of Critical Design Review Clears Way for Qualification Testing And Production
Feb 15, 2001
ATK (Alliant Techsystems, NYSE: ATK) said ATK Ammunition Systems Company, New Brighton, Minn., and the U.S. Army successfully passed a key milestone in the development of the Army's next-generation 120mm armor-piercing tank ammunition round, clearing the way for government qualification testing and the start of low-rate initial production later this year.
The Critical Design Review (CDR) for the M829E3 kinetic-energy round, which established the final production design, was completed on schedule per the U.S. Army's accelerated Program Acquisition Plan developed three years ago, when ATK was selected to develop the round. The milestone culminates a successful development testing program to verify that the design meets the user's requirements and supports the program's aggressive fielding objectives. Early detailed modeling prior to design and hardware manufacturing enabled the M829E3 product team to complete development with approximately 10-percent fewer tests than initially required.
The M829E3 round uses an advanced composite sabot and penetrator design in addition to a high-performance propellant to substantially increase the lethality and accuracy of the U.S. Army's Abrams main battle tank at extended ranges. The improved performance comes at the same low cost as the currently fielded tactical tank ammunition round, providing the Army an affordable way to maintain armored superiority on the 21st century battlefield.
The M829E3 program is in the 31st month of a 48-month engineering and manufacturing development effort worth $42 million. The program has three production options that could bring total sales to over $130 million. The Army currently plans to continue production of the round for five to six years to fully meet war reserve requirements.
Mike McCann, president, ATK Ammunition Systems Company, said the M829E3 program's success to date reflects a rigorous approach to hardware design and a close working relationship with the Army.
"Our team began design work even prior to contract award, which has been a key factor in our ability to stay on schedule," said McCann. "We've also been able to work very effectively on government-industry integrated product teams (IPTs) with our partners at the Office of the Project Manager, Tank and Medium-Caliber Armament Systems (TMAS), U.S. Army Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC), Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., and the Army Research Laboratories (ARL), Aberdeen Proving Grounds (APG), Aberdeen, Md. The value of the IPT approach to weapon system design and development is reflected in the fact that the M829E3 team has met or exceeded all program expectations to date."
McCann said with CDR completed, the team will now turn its attention to manufacturing M829E3 rounds to support qualification tests at APG, which are scheduled to begin in June 2001.
Vertical Integration Another Key Success Factor
Mark Hissong, M829E3 program director, ATK Ammunition Systems Company, said ATK's vertically integrated munitions design and production capabilities -- part of the company's total ammunition supplier strategy -- are another reason for the success of the development program.
"Two other ATK companies are playing critical roles in the program," said Hissong. "ATK Missile Products Company, Rocket Center, W. Va., is manufacturing the round's composite sabot at a state-of-the-art production facility constructed especially for the M829E3 program. The team there has taken composite thermoplastic manufacturing to a new level, supporting both this program and offering the Army an affordable production capability for future Brigade Combat Team and Future Combat System ammunition derivatives.
"ATK Ammunition and Powder Company, Radford, Va., had provided outstanding propulsion system work. Their early ballistic modeling and cost-effective manufacturing of the round's high-performance propellant kit have been instrumental in our ability to achieve propulsion performance goals."
The M829E3 will replace the M829A1 and M829A2 rounds. Co-developed by ATK and the Army in the late 1980s, the M829A1 round is widely regarded as the most effective tank-fired anti-armor weapon in the world. During Operation Desert Storm, it was nicknamed "the silver bullet" by Army tank gunners because of its effectiveness against Iraqi armor.
ATK is the world's largest supplier of 120mm training and tactical ammunition for main battle tanks, with nearly three million rounds produced and delivered to the U.S. and allied nations. The design, development, and high-volume production of tank ammunition is one of the company's most important core capabilities.
ATK is a $1.1 billion aerospace and defense company with leading market positions in munitions, smart weapons/precision capabilities, propulsion, and composite structures. The company, which is headquartered in Hopkins, Minn., employs approximately 6,400 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, 952-931-5413, rod_bitz@atk.com, or Investors,
Steve Wold, 952-931-6747, steve_wold@atk.com, both of Alliant Techsystems
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