Description:
OBJECTIVE: This topic seeks to apply innovative concepts from the field of Electro-Explosive Ordnance Devices for use on Interceptors to improve the overall reliability and lower the failure and/or inadvertent initiation risks by simplifying the design, employing contemporary or next generation energetics, or incorporating other robust features to lower risks and enhance reliability. DESCRIPTION: Electro-Explosive Ordnance Devices (EEDs) are used in Interceptor as mission critical components. These"one-shot"devices must be reliable and function when needed after extended periods of storage. While numerous designs exist in industry, concepts that would enhance reliability, producibility, and testability are needed. Recent producibility problems with existing EEDs have created enhanced awareness of the need for improvements. Further, a means to allow for some health monitoring through"built-in-test"would be a significant breakthrough. The successful bidders for this effort shall be provided with generic interface and general performance requirements of typical Interceptor EEDs. General storage and functional environments will also be provided. For various applications of interest the thermal environments are not severe. Proposals need to demonstrate an innovative concept that has a realistic potential to enhance EED reliability through robust design and/or manufacturing techniques. Reliability enhancements in explosive materials, bridge-wire materials, or other EED component materials are sought. Designs that enhance robustness in No-Fire tests are of particular interest. PHASE I: Mature the proposed EED design concept to fully document the feasibility of the enhancements for reliability, producibility, and/or testability. During this phase the enhanced concepts may be tailored to the generic interface and performance requirements of interest for Interceptor EEDs. PHASE II: Demonstrate the feasibility of the enhanced reliability EED design by building and testing proto-type units. This phase will focus on verifying that the proposed enhancements will actually increase reliability of the EED, thus the scope of this phase will be tailored to highlight the benefits of the specific design. For this phase, proposers are encouraged to indentify a partnership with a current or potential supplier that has appropriate manufacturing capabilities to produce the EEDs. PHASE III: Integrate the enhanced reliability EED into a critical Interceptor application and generalize the application for broader applications across MDA programs and commercially. This phase will demonstrate the applicability in one or more MDA element systems, subsystems, or components. DUAL USE/COMMERCIALIZATION POTENTIAL: The proposal should clearly show that the enhanced reliability EED has benefits to both commercial and defense applications. The projected benefits to reduce cost, improved reliability, improved testability, or improved producibility should be made clear. The demand for highly reliable electro-explosive ordnance devices is a multi-million dollar, world-wide market with demands in diverse areas such as: military warheads, aircraft ejection seats, precision mining, precision controlled demolitions, launch vehicles, and spacecraft applications. Success in this research area should stengthen available reliable EED hardware for use at MDA, other DoD Agencies, and commercial entities. REFERENCES: 1. MIL-STD-1512, MILITARY STANDARD: ELECTROEXPLOSIVE SUBSYSTEMS 2. MIL-STD-1576, MILITARY STANDARD: ELECTROEXPLOSIVE SUBSYSTEM SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND TEST METHODS FOR SPACE SYSTEMS (31 JUL 1984) 3. AIAA-S-113-2005, Criteria for Explosive Systems and Devices on Space and Launch Vehicles (Nov. 2005) 4. MIL-STD-1760 Aircraft/Store Electrical Interconnection System
