Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

XM350 Propelling Charge

for the 105mm M1130E1

2012 NDIA Joint Armaments Conference

Department of the Army
Office of the Project Manager for Combat Ammunition Systems
Attn: Ms. Kristy Klein St. Marks Powder
Tel 973-724-9611 Attn: Mr. William O’Meara
[email protected] Tel (850)-577-2261
Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000 William.O’[email protected]
PO Box 222, St Marks Florida 32355
 Government-Industry
Contributors/Co-Authors
Government:
Kristy Klein*
James (Jim) Rutkowski
Charlie Patel
Katherine Murphy

Industry:
William (Bill) O’Meara*
Robert (Bob) Pulver
Erica Wilder
Charles (Chip) Hayden

* Presenter(s)
Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
2
 XM350 for the 105mm XM1130E1

XM350 (Propellant) M1130 (Projectile)

o 105mm Propellant Charge System o Army’s latest 105mm Projectile
o 7 Zones in Acrylic Bags o Increased lethality High Explosive,
o HYBRID BALL POWDER® Propellant Pre-Formed Fragmentation
o Approximately 4.5 lbs propellant o Approximately 35 lbs
o Improved primer design o Base Bleed and Aerodynamic

Base Bleed projectile with HYBRID BALL POWDER® propellant provides

the 105mm cannon an extended range of over 17 km (standard
conditions) with the 7 zone charge and also provides range overlap
(min.10%) with improved accuracy and lethality!
Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
3
105mm Artillery Cartridges
“Upgrade Opportunity”
CURRENT ISSUE:
 Units must carry more ammo to cover standard
and extended range missions
− Cartridges designed for M101/M102 howitzers
at zones 1-7 (M67/M176 prop chg)
− M1 (HE) up to 11.5km
− M548 (HERA) up to 15.3km
− M927 (HERA) up to 16.5km
− 3 Cartridges designed for M119A1/A2/A3
howitzers at zone 8 (M200/M229 prop chg)
− M760 (HE) up to 14.0km
− M915 (DPICM-SDF) up to 14.1km
− M913 (HERA) up to 19.5km

OPPORTUNITY (XM350):
 Qualify a new propelling charge to replace the
M67/M200/M229 and cover all current zones,
from 1 through 8, within a single M1130 cartridge
− New charge would be 7 separate zones
− Match zone-1 MV for Min Range
− Three or four intermediate for Range Overlap
− Match zone-7 MV for Standard Max Range
− Match zone-8 MV for Extended Max Range
Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
4
 M1130E1 with XM350
CURRENT
Plan

Opportunity to Increase Operational Flexibility & Reduce Logistics

Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
5
 M1130 105mm Projectile
High Explosive, Pre-Formed Fragmentation
 HE-PFF-BB Projectile demonstrated a 2 - 4 X
improvement in lethality against select targets yet
has improved survivability IM warhead

 Reduction in collateral damage yet improved first

shot Pkill

 Advanced base bleed and aerodynamic design for

increased range and accuracy…growth to
precision accuracy

 Formally received US Army Materiel Release as the

M1130 (with the M67 propelling charge)

 XM350 charge provides a significant boost in

range (over 30%) and area coverage (over 70%)
Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
6
 XM350
Replacing M67 & M200 Propelling Charges
New XM350 Prop chg (Z1→7) to 17+ km 105mm
Case with
 Contains 7 unequal cloth bags – total 74 oz. XM60 XM350
HYBRID BALL POWDER® Propellant
 Used with M1130 HE-BB-PFF

M1 (HE)
with
M67 Current M67 Prop chg (Z1→7) to 11.5 km
 Contains 7 unequal cloth bags -- total 45.2 oz. M1
propellant, M1-SP in Z1-2, M1-MP in Z3-7
 Used with all standard NATO 105mm artillery
M760 (HE) ammunition
with M200
Current M200/M229 Prop chg (Z8) to 19.5km
 Contains 1 single cloth bag (Z8) -- total 68 oz. M30
propellant
 Used with HE (M760) to 14.0km
 Extended range DPICM (M915) to 19.5km

Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

7
 XM350 Propelling Charge
 7 Zone Propelling Charge provides a
minimum of 10% range overlap

 Primer redesigned for improved ignition

properties XM350, 7-Zone
Extended Range
Propellant Charge
 XM60 HYBRID BALL POWDER® Propellant
 Cooler burning than the M30 in the M200 charge

 EMQB chemical stability testing completed

 meets the safe shelf life requirement of 20yrs or
more

 HYBRID BALL POWDER® Propellant, used

in the first tank round that passed all IM XM350, 7-Zone Extended
requirements as recognized by MSIAC. Range Propellant Charge
 XM350 results may vary due to cartridge
case/packaging confinement
Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
8
XM60 HYBRID BALL POWDER®
Propellant for the XM350
The State-of-the-art in Propellant Technology for Small,
Medium and Large Caliber Ammunition
Ballistic efficiency achieved by
combining perforated geometry
with burn rate modifiers
(deterrents)

Deterrent Layer - applied to tailor the burn rate for

specific applications/ zones to optimize ballistic
efficiency

Small Grains with Very High Gravimetric Density (Loading

Density ~1.050 g/cc) load well in the zone bags and
achieve required charge weight sufficient to meet extended
range velocity at lower flame temperatures

Uncoated HYBRID Grains

Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
9
 XM350 Charge Development
Collaborative effort between ARDEC, St. Marks
and PM-CAS personnel developed the propellant,
charge design configuration, including a new
primer design that reduces pressure waves,
improves velocity SD and enable increased
performance while meeting a minimum of 10%
range overlap at all zones
XM350 Cross Section

High Zone
XM60

Low Zone
XM60

XM133 Primer

Mid Zone
XM60
Improved Design Smoothed Pressure Rise
Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
10
 TC Plan for XM350 with M1130
Overview
 Produced and delivered 10,000 lbs of XM60 propellant
 Completed charge weight assessment for each zone
 Conduct EMQB required testing to qualify XM60 propellant
 Currently ongoing – to be completed by 1st Qtr 2013

 Fabricate 1,400 XM350

propelling charges and LAP
1,000 M1130E1 cartridges
 LAP contract to be completed by
1st Qtr 2013

 Conduct qualification tests for

105mm artillery ammunition
 To be completed by 1st Qtr 2014

Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

11
 Summary
XM350 with M1130  M1130E1
CURRENT
Plan

Opportunity to Increase Operational Flexibility,

Capability & Reduce Logistics
Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
12
 END

Distribution Statement A: approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

13