Some Comments Regarding Performance Potential

for a New Machine Gun and Ammunition Concepts

Abe Flatau
Consultant
General Outline

Summary

ntroduction

!rief "echnical O#er#iew

Ammunition
$mphasis on lightweight% high &
'
% #ery low drag pro(ectiles )
high *inetic energy to deposit on target

!rief Comparison of "ra(ectory Profiles

Proposed #s+ current
Conclusion

t is strongly recommended that the *ey technologies be

brought together to result in a modern% high performance%
effecti#e machine gun system that is a superior weapon in the
field+
Summary

Concei#ing% de#eloping and fielding a weapon system is not an

easy tas*+

Perhaps that is why we shy away from replacing tried and tested
systems that ha#e been used for almost the past century+

"his brief presentation points out some of the ad#ances in

technology that can be applied to a new high performance
machine gun system+
Comments on +,' Cal -ea#y Machine Gun

"echnology from the end of .. /01023+

Cartridge #olume is limited+ No significant increase in

performance+

Saboted 4ight Anti5Material Penetrator /S4AP3 performance

limited+

O#erall gun5ammo system limited for performance upgrade+

Aerodynamicist6s Golden Rule
7Assume $#erything% !ut the Responsibility+8
Current and Proposed -ea#y Machine Gun Systems
.t /lb3 &
'
/ft9sec3
:S 0;+<mm/+,'cal3 '+0'0= ;%2''

:S 0,+;=mm/+>'cal3

:S 0>+,0mm/+>,cal3 '+'<1= ,%'''

So#iet 0=+,mm/+,<cal3 '+0?10 ?%,00

:S ;1mm M;=> '+;;>< ?%?2'
Characteristics of .ell @esigned "ubular Pro(ectiles

-igh muAAle #elocity B4ow drag shape )

-igh *inetic energy B short time of flight ) relati#ely flat tra(ectory ) high hit
probability
Performance bonus ) high gyroscopic stability ) anti5ricochet
Relati#ely New "echnologies
/Since !rowning +,' Cal was Accepted3

Aeroballistic

nterior !allistics

Materials /high strength C light weight3

Computer Aided @esign

Pro(ectiles

"ubular w9 ncendiary
Pusher9obturator

Multipurpose

Consumable

Con#entional w9 -$ Charge

S4AP
nterior !allistics

Compacted propellant
/Proprietary designs and concepts3

gnition "echniDues

4ightweight pro(ectile

Mass /M3 B -igh muAAle #elocity /&3 ) -igh *inetic energy /09;M&
;
3

$Duates toE Shorter time of flight to a gi#en distance B some

aerodynamic lift combined with low5aerodynamic drag ) a relati#ely flat
tra(ectory
Pac*ing @ensity

.. Propeller Aircraft

Fet Fighter
Conclusion

t is strongly recommended that the *ey technologies be

brought together to result in a modern% high performance%
effecti#e machine gun and ammunition system that is superior
to other gun5launched weapons in its general class+
Full5bore "ubular Pro(ectile Configuration
Air
flow
4ip angle
Rotating
band
Crimp
groo#e
!oattail
Con#ergent
area
"hroat @i#ergent
area
0173-04
!asic Characteristics of "ubular Pro(ectiles
4ow supersonic drag

4ight weight allows increased muAAle #elocity

-igh gyroscope stability

Flight
direction
0171-04
$Gternal Flow Characteristics of "ubular Pro(ectiles
Swallowed flow

No bow shoc* on
or in front of nose

4ow drag
@irection
of flight
-igh Mach Number 4ow Mach Number
M 0+1
Cho*ed flow

!ow shoc*

-igh drag
0174-04
!ow shoc* associated with 7cho*ing8 and high drag
NoteE Abo#e shape is *nown as a !usemann !iplane and
also as an 7internal8 design
0172-04
Schlieren Photographs of "C@5? .SCO Supersonic .ind
"unnel &ariable Mach Number Operation
!efore high drag condition -igh drag condition
M ?+' M ;+,
M 0+> M ;+'
0176-04
Aeroballistic Range Photographs9"C@5?
M H ='
Near muAAle
;' feet down range
0, feet down range
?'' feet down range
0175-04
0183-04
M0'? case
Obturator9
pusher
"ubular pro(ectile
.SC MAR <>
0178-04
Potential Ad#antages of "ubular Pro(ectiles

-igher launch #elocity /lighter weight3

Shorter time of flight

Near straight5line tra(ectory profile

Simplified fire control

0170-04
0182-04
Iinetic $nergy #s+ Range
' ,'' 0''' 0,'' ;'''
Range% meters
='
?'
;,
;'
0,
0'
,
'
I
i
n
e
t
i
c

e
n
e
r
g
y
%

f
t
5
l
b

0
'
?
'+, sec
'+, sec
'+, sec
'+, sec
0+'
0+'
0+'
0+,
0+,
0+,
0+,
;+'
;+'
;+'
;+,
;+,
;+,
?+'
?+,
=+'
SiAe .eight% lb &
o
%
ft9sec
'+>, cal+ '+'<1=' ,'''
0=+, mm api '+0?10 ?,00
'+,' cal+ apm; '+0'0, ;2''
;' mm M;=> '+;;>< ??2'
"5'+>, Caliber #s+ '+,' Caliber
0180-04
Caliber .eight% lb
"5'+>, '+'<1=
'+,' '+0'0=
,'''
='''
?'''
;'''
0'''
'
&
e
l
o
c
i
t
y
%

H
f
t
9
s
e
c
' 0''' ;''' ?'''
Range% Hmeters
'+, sec
0+'
0+,
;+'
;+,
?+'
=+'
'+< sec
0+'
;+'
;+2
0181-04
Representati#e "ra(ectory Profiles
' ,'' 0''' 0,'' ;'''
='
?'
;'
0'
'
-oriAontal range% Hmeters
-
e
i
g
h
t
%

m
e
t
e
r
s
&
i+>, cal
) 0';2 FPS
t ) ;+>' sec
and
&
i+,' cal
) 20, FPS
t ) =+,' sec
+,' cal+ APE ) ;% &
'
) ;2'' FPS
+>' cal+ "C@5<E ) '+>% &
'
) ,''' FPS
Summary of +>, Caliber "ubular Pro(ectile Characteristics

Significant increase in *inetic energy o#er +,' caliber

"erminal ballistics far superior to +,' caliber AP

Flatter tra(ectory than +,' caliber

Shorter time of flight than +,' caliber

Greater range than +,' caliber

4ow weight system9low cost ammunition

0169-04
@R@AR5AC.
0179-04
7"hat6s how Research and
@e#elopment put the
pressure on+ First they hustle
you to promise them results+
"hen they hustle you some
more to promise them results
in our lifetimeJ8
0177-04