SUMMARY
The CapTech Missiles and Munitions performs technology watch and develops multinational research projects on energetic materials, missiles, and munitions related technologies, in support of European future defence capabilities.
A key driver for cooperation between Member States is the need to better understand, evaluate and analyse energetic materials (propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics) required for military applications. The CapTech also addresses topics such as: predictive modelling and simulation for missiles and munitions; detonation and blast effects; ballistic design (internal, external, and terminal ballistics), and integration of such technologies into weapons design. The identified shortfalls concerning firepower capabilities, the development of next generation precision strike capabilities, the need for extension of weapons range is as well addressed via the CapTech research activities. Defence against threats, and protection for own forces and non-combatants (e.g., camouflage via pyrotechnics, reduction of health and safety hazards) are other topics of interest
The following technology categories are considered as the area of responsibility of the CapTech Missiles and Munitions:
- Energetic Materials (propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics)
- Lethality & Platform Protection (penetrators, warheads and battle damage assessment)
- Propulsion of munitions and missiles
- Design Technologies for Platforms & Weapons (ballistic design)
- Sensor Systems (explosive detection)
- Weapons
The work of the CapTech Missiles and Munitions generally ranges from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 to 6, with some projects achieving the level of demonstrator. For R&T efforts to be fruitful and contribute to defence needs and priorities, the CapTech activities are linked to EDA Capability Development Plan (CDP) addressing security and defence challenges in the short-, mid- and longer-term. In this way, for the CDP 2018 priorities, it mainly contributes to:
- Ground Combat Capabilities (precision strike, extend weapons range)
- Naval Manoeuvrability (surface superiority, long-range anti-ship/access denial capabilities)
- Underwater Control (anti-submarine warfare, anti-submarine weapons)
- Air Superiority (long-range strike, suppression of enemy air defence (A2/AD), hypersonic missiles, electronic attack capability, loitering munitions, rapid-fire)
CapTech Missiles and Munitions has a continuous interaction with other EDA CapTechs and working groups to understand and provide contributions for developing defence capabilities, definition of requirements and coordination of relevant activities. It may interact with other relevant organizations in order to exchange information, perform technology watch, and investigate synergies and opportunities for joint activities in its area of responsibility. Examples of these organizations are the European Space Agency (ESA) and European Commission, among others.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
The CapTech Missiles and Munitions meets at least twice a year, at EDA premises in Brussels. EDA participating Member States can offer to host meetings, upon national representative’s agreement. During such meetings, MoDs representatives, designated as CapTech National Coordinators (CNC) meet and discuss areas with potential to develop multinational research projects, in consultation of the CapTech Governmental and non-Governmental members. Dedicated workshops or seminars take place prior and right after a CapTech meeting, or on another agreed date. The aim is to discuss specific technologies of interest and prepare project candidates to be submitted to CapTech Missiles and Munitions plenary meetings. The workshops are “hands-on” and participative, gathering subject matter experts.
Requests for CapTech Missiles and Munitions membership can be submitted to the CapTech Moderator or the respective CapTech National Coordinator (CNC). Approval by the national authority is required to become permanent member of the CapTech, in the person of the relevant CNC. The different types of membership consist in Governmental Expert (CGE) or non-Governmental Expert (CnGE). To become a member of CapTech Missiles and Munitions (CGE or CnGE), please contact us at: CapTech.Ammunition@eda.europa.eu
To structure the work programme, a dedicated Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) was developed by the group and several Technology Building Blocks (TBBs) were identified. For each TBB, an implementation roadmap was developed and approved by Member States. These roadmaps are currently in implementation and cover the following TBBs:
- TBB01 - Munition Life Management
- TBB02 - Insensitive Munitions (IM)
- TBB03 - Fuzing and Ignition Systems Precision guided munition & missiles
- TBB04 – Precision Guided Munition and Missiles
- TBB05 - High performance gun launch & missile propulsion
- TBB06 - Railgun Weapon
- TBB07 - Improved tools and methods for qualification and safety
- TBB08 - IED detection and defeat technologies
- TBB09 - High-performance, low sensitivity and REACH compliant energetic materials
- TBB10 - Improved warhead and penetrator design
- TBB11 - Pyrotechnics for decoying and obscuring
- TBB12 - New production technologies for munition components
- TBB13 - Education and training for ammunition technologies
Besides the research activities foreseen in the roadmaps, any CapTech member can propose ideas for new activities (projects, workshops, etc.) at any meeting. The ideas are debated among members in order to understand a clear expression of interest and determine the potential to launch a cooperative project.
ONGOING AND FINALIZED ACTIVITIES
Current projects
- Additive Manufacturing Techniques for Energetic Materials (AMTEM)
- Stand-off detection of Hybrid threats containing Explosives (STYX)
- Prediction Models for Implementation of Munition Health Management (PREMIUM)
- European Detonation Code (EUDETCODE)
- Energetic Materials Production, Obsolescence and Formulation (EMPOF)
- Education and Training Programme on Energetic Materials (ETPEM)
- Reverse Calculation Method in Interior Ballistics and Improvement of Multiphysics Models (RECBALL)
- High Power Electromagnetic Munitions (HPEM) – Webnews
Finalized projects
- Munition-Life Management (MLM)
- Guided Munitions: Mission Abort System (MAS)
- Reduced Sensitivity Energetic Materials (RSEM - HPIC)
- Formulation and Production of New Energetic Materials (FPNEM)
- Energetic Materials Towards an Enhanced European Capability (EMTEEC)
- Environmental Responsible Munitions (ERM)
- Insensitive Munitions Ageing (IMA)
- Future Flares Composition (FFC)
- Scalable Effects for Missiles and Munitions (SEMM)
- Open Architecture for N-DOF simulation (OPAN-DOF)
Other activities:
- Small Arms Ammunition Workshop, 4 Feb 2021
- Technology Foresight Workshop on Hypervelocity Systems, 12-13 Oct 2020 – web news link
- Projectiles for Increased Long-range effects Using Electromagnetic railgun (PILUM) – web news link