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DELTA M137 MOD 3

Next Generation Electronic Fuze

1
Chapter 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO MECHANICAL AND
ELECTRONIC FUZES
CONTENTS

• 1.1.Introduction
• 1.2.Functions of Fuzes
• 1.3.History of Fuzes
• 1.4.Classification of Fuzes
• 1.5.Components of Fuzes
• 1.6.Closure

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Chapter 2: Design of Fuzes
CONTENTS
• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Design Objectives for Fuzes
• 2.3 Approach to Fuze Design
• 2.4 Steps Involved in Fuze Design
• 2.5 Planning for Design of Fuzes at OFB
• 2.6 Closure

CHAPTER 1 3
Chapter 3: Mechanical Fuzes
CONTENTS
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2Fuze Initiation or Firing Mechanisms
• 3.3 Explosive Train
• 3.4 Safing Mechanisms
• 3.5 Arming Mechanisms
• 3.6 Features of Mechanical Fuzes
• 3.7Limitations of Mechanical Fuzes
• 3.8 Closure
CHAPTER 2 4
Chapter 4 : Electronic Fuzes
CONTENTS
• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Advantages of Electronic Fuzes
• 4.3 Basic Elements of Electronic Fuzes
• 4.4 Types of Electronic Fuzes
• 4.5 Limitations of Electronic Fuzes
• 4.6 Closure

CHAPTER 3 5
Chapter 5 : Testing of Fuzes
CONTENTS
• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Development and Acceptance Tests
• 5.3 Component Tests
• 5.4 Proof Tests
• 5.5 Safety Tests
• 5.6 Surveillance Tests
• 5.7 Testing of Electronic Fuzes
• 5.8 Closure
CHAPTER 4 6
Chapter 6 : Futuristic Trends in Fuzes Technology
CONTENTS
• 6.1 Introduction
• 6.2 Latest electronic fuzes
from leading manufacturers
• 6.3 Innovations in Proximity Fuzing
• 6.4 Innovations in fuze
manufacture technology and safety mechanisms
• 6.5 Future of Fuze technology
• 6.6 Closure
CHAPTER 5 7
CONTENTS
• Bibliography
• Appendix A: MIL-STD-331B
• Appendix B: Schedule for Proof & Sentencing Criteri
Fuze
• Appendix C: Quality Assurance Procedure
(Revised) For Fuze VT –8A (Electrical / Electronic)
• Annexure 1 (to Appendix B)

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CHAPTER 1
FUZES: INTRODUCTION, FUNCTIONING AND
CLASSIFICATION

1.1Introduction
• Rockets, Missiles, Shells, Bombs and other
ammunitions form an integral part of the firing
capacity of an army in modern warfare.
• These ammunition are filled with explosives with
creates risk of explosion during handling, storage
and launching. This necessitates the incorporation
of some safety device in these ammunitions.

Contents 9
1.1 Introduction
• Besides, it is required that when launched, the
ammunition must fire at desired time and/or place in
the enemy territory so that the intended purpose of
inflicting damage on enemy target can be achieved
with high precision and even selectively if required.
• For this purpose, some mechanism must also be
incorporated in the ammunition to sense the
environment and initiate the ammunition.

Contents 10
1.1 Introduction
• The safety mechanism should work until the
ammunition is launched and after the launch, the
firing mechanism should take over.
• In order to achieve this requirement, an arming
mechanism is also required in the ammunition. All
the abovementioned requirements of the
ammunition are fulfilled by the devices called
Fuzes.

Contents 11
1.2 Functions of Fuzes
• Fuzes are the devices attached to ammunition for the
purpose of safing, arming and firing.
• Basic function of the fuze is to fire the ammunition
when desired and ensure safety during other times.
• Therefore, the fuze is also referred to as the brain of
the ammunition. The basic functions of the fuzes are
listed below

Contents 12
1.2 Functions of Fuzes
1. Safing: To ensure safety during storage, handling
(accidental mishandling), transportation and launching of
the ammunition.
2. Arming: To sense the conditions of launch of ammunition
and to align explosive trains, close switches and establish
other links to enable the firing of ammunition thereafter.
3. Firing: To initiate the detonation in the ammunition at
desired point in space or at preset time.
4. Fuze must be able to carry out abovementioned functional
requirements reliably under extreme operational
conditions such as high velocity, spin, environmental
variables, impact etc.

Contents 13
1.3 History of Fuzes
• The history of fuzes dates back to First World War,
when primitive Direct Action fuzes having simple
mechanical construction were developed (1914-17).
• Prior to 1942, fuze system where entirely
mechanical systems. Two types of proximity fuzes
were developed during World War II, the radio and
the photoelectric proximity fuzes.

Contents 14
1.3 History of Fuzes
• Photoelectric fuzes required light for operation and would
sometime function early when sun moved into and out the
field of view of the photoelectric lens.
• For this reason, this fuze was discarded in 1943 and the
term proximity or VT (Variable Time) fuze was used to
refer to radio proximity fuzes.
• Prior to early 1960s, the types of fuze used were either
mechanical systems or hybrid systems containing electrical
timing systems (vacuum tube units and other electrical
components).

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Contents
1.3 History of Fuzes
• The first electronic hybrid (transistors and vacuum
tubes) fuze, the M532, was made in early 1960s for
a mortar round.
• The first fully transistorized fuze, the M429, was
made in the 1965-70 time-period for a 2.75” rocket.
• The M514A1E1 (later named M728) was the first
fully transistorized artillery fuze and was made in
the late 1960s to early 1970s.
• New electronic fuzes with multiple features came
into existence in 1980s.
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Contents
1.4 Classification of Fuzes
• Fuzes can be classified into sub-categories based on their
ammunition, tactical application, functioning, location etc.
Some of such classifications are discussed below.
Based on Functioning
Based on the principle of operation, fuzes are classified as
follows.
• (i) Impact or Percussion Fuzes: Impact fuze initiates the
firing action when actual contact with the target takes place.
Impact fuzes are further classified as follows

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1.4 Classification of Fuzes
a) Point Detonating Fuzes (PD):
Point detonating fuzes are located on the nose of
the projectile and function upon the impact with
the target or following impact with a timed delay.
b) Base Detonating Fuzes (BD): Base detonating
fuzes are located on the base of the projectile and
function with short delay after the initial impact at
the nose of the fuze.

Contents 18
1.4 Classification of Fuzes
c) Point-Initiating, Base-Detonating (PIBD): Point-
initiating, base-detonating fuze has the target-
sensing element in the nose of the projectile and
the functional part of the fuze is in the base
d) Delay Fuzes: These fuzes are designed to function
after a long delay (minutes to days) after the initial
impact. These fuze find their application in bombs,
underwater mines etc.

Contents 19
1.4 Classification of Fuzes
Point-detonating, Base-detonating, Point-initiating-Base-
detonating and Delay fuzes are combined called as Direct
Action fuzes as they function when something reasonably
solid compresses the nose of the fuze.
e) Graze fuzes: Many times, the projectile may land at the
target at very low descent angles, resulting in a grazing
action rather than a direct impact and the Direct Action
fuzes may not function. Graze fuzes are designed for such
cases. It detonates if the shell decelerates appreciably

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1.4 Classification of Fuzes
• (ii) Time Fuzes: Time fuzes function at the end of
an elapsed time after arming or impact. Time fuzes
may further be classified based on the mechanism to
measure time and induce delay such as mechanical,
electronic, pyrotechnic, chemical, radiological etc.
Time fuzes are used for illumination projectile and
special purpose mines, bombs and grenades.

Contents 21
1.4 Classification of Fuzes
• In case the target is missed while firing from air-to-
air or ground-to-air, it is desired to destroy the
projectile in the air itself. For such applications,
Self-destruction feature in incorporated in fuzes
known as Self Destruction (SD) fuzes, by using a
suitable timing mechanism

Contents 22
1.4 Classification of Fuzes
• (iii) Proximity Fuzes: These fuzes function when
they sense that they are in the proximity to the
target. These fuzes are also called Influence fuzes.
These fuzes are particularly effective in uses against
personnel, light ground targets, aircrafts and
superstructures of ships. The proximity sensor
generally functions on the principle of Doppler
effect.

Contents 23
1.4 Classification of Fuzes
• (iv) Command Fuzes: Command fuzes are remotely
controlled devices. Command fuzes function through a
signal communicated to the fuze from a remote point
through electrical, mechanical, optical or other means.
• (v) Combination Fuzes: Fuzes involving more than one of
the principles of operations discussed above are called
Combination Fuzes. These fuzes have multi-options so that
same fuze can serve for different tactical applications, with
one mode of operation as Principle action and others as
Secondary actions.

Contents 24
1.4 Classification of Fuzes
1.4.2. Based on types of mechanisms
• Various mechanisms in the fuzes, such as safety,
arming and firing, can be designed by using
mechanical linkages or electrical / electronic circuits
etc. Based on the mechanisms in the fuze, they are
classified Mechanical Fuzes, Electronic Fuzes,
Optical Fuzes, Chemical Fuzes etc. Mechanical and
Electronic fuzes are discussed in detail in the
subsequent chapters.
Contents 25
1.4 Classification of Fuzes
1.4.3. Based on the Tactical Application
• Based on the tactical application, fuzes are classified
as Air-to-Air, Air-to-Ground, Ground-to-Air and
Ground-to-Ground.

Contents 26
1.4 Classification of Fuzes
1.4.4. Based on the Purpose
Based on the purpose of the fuze or the target, fuzes are
classified as follows.
• Antipersonnel (APERS)
• Armor-Piercing (AP)
• Blast or High Explosive (HE)
• Concrete-Piercing (CP)
• High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)
• High Explosive Plastic (HEP)
• Illumination
Contents 27
1.4 Classification of Fuzes
1.4.5. Based on Ammunition
• Based on ammunition with which the fuze is
employed, fuzes are classified as Bomb fuze,
Grenade fuze, Guided Missile fuze, Mine fuze,
Mortar fuze, Projectile fuze, Rocket fuze etc.
• Type of ammunition and the fuzes used with them
(based on the functioning) are given in the table
below.

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1.4 Classification of Fuzes
S. No. Ammunition Fuzes Used

01. Artillery Guns Direct Action Fuzes (PD), Time Fuzes (M, El), Proximity
Fuzes, Combination Fuzes.

02. Mortars Direct Action Fuzes (PD), Time Fuzes (M, El), Proximity
Fuzes, Combination Fuzes, Delay Fuzes (Illuminating and
Smoke Bombs).

03. Naval Guns Direct Action Fuzes (PD), Time Fuzes (M, El), Proximity
Fuzes, Combination Fuzes. Naval Guns

04. Tank Guns Direct Action Fuzes (PD, PIBD), Graze Fuzes.

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1.4 Classification of Fuzes
S. No. Ammunition Fuzes Used

05. Bomb Fuzes Direct Action Fuzes (PD), Time Fuzes (M, El),
Proximity Fuzes, Combination Fuzes.

06. Land Mines Pressure Fuzes.

07. Sea Mines Time Fuzes (M, El), Delay Fuzes.

08. Surface Target Direct Action Fuzes (PD), Time Fuzes (M, El),
Missiles Proximity Fuzes, Combination Fuzes.

09. Air Target Missile Direct Action Fuzes (PD), Time Fuzes (Self
Destructive), Proximity Fuzes, Combination Fuzes.

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1.4 Classification of Fuzes
S. No. Ammunition Fuzes Used
10. Small Caliber Direct Action Fuzes (PD, BD), Proximity Fuzes,
Guns Combination Fuzes.

•M – Mechanical Fuze,
•El – Electronic fuze,
•PD – Point Detonating,
•BD – Base detonating,

•PIBD – Point-Initiating, Base-Detonating.

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1.5 Components of Fuzes
• Many varieties of the fuze have been developed
over the years in order to achieve specific functional
objectives.
• All of the fuses have some basic
mechanisms/modules in common, though the
working of mechanism may be markedly different.
Some of the basic modules of the fuzes are
discussed below

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1.5 Components of Fuzes
• 1.5.1 Safety Mechanism: In order to provide
adequate safety to the fuze, following safety
features are incorporated in all the fuzes, though
through different means.
i) The present design philosophy entails the fuze to
have at least two safing features, either one
capable of preventing unintended detonation. The
concept involved is that there is low probability of
both the safety features failing simultaneously.
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1.5 Components of Fuzes
ii) Fuzes are designed to be detonator safe i.e. even if the
detonator functions, it cannot initiate the explosive train
prior to launch. The basic method to achieve this is by an
interrupted explosive train, which aligns itself only after
the launch of the ammunition.
iii) Fuzes for artillery projectiles, mortar projectiles and
rockets needs to be bore safe i.e. the detonator will not
initiate a bursting charge while the projectile is in the
launching tube. This is achieved by preventing initiating
pin (firing pin) from hitting the detonator by introducing
some interruption in between.

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1.5 Components of Fuzes
iv) A delay mechanism may be separately
incorporated in some fuzes to delay the arming of
the fuze until the ammunition has left the launcher.
In other cases, the time taken by arming mechanism
to arm the fuze or bore safety feature takes care of
this requirement

Contents 35
1.5 Components of Fuzes
• 1.5.2 Arming Mechanism: Fuzes are designed to be bore
safe and detonator safe for safety requirements. These
feature needs to be disabled after the launch of the
ammunition to complete the firing circuit and this objective
is fulfilled by arming mechanism.
• Arming mechanism mainly involves aligning explosive
train elements or to remove the barriers in the explosive
trains or to complete the firing circuit by closing switches.
The energy to align the element and control the action time
may be obtained from the forces experienced at the launch
and during flight, or through any external source.

Contents 36
1.5 Components of Fuzes
• 1.5.3 Explosive Train: Explosive train provides
transition of a relatively feeble stimulus generated
by initiating mechanism into the desired explosive
output of the main charge. It consists of explosive
elements arranged in the order of decreasing
sensitivity. The initial explosive component is
known as initiator, which may be a primer or a
detonator.

Contents 37
1.5 Components of Fuzes
• A primer may not detonate itself but causes
detonation of the subsequent element in the
explosive train whereas detonator detonates to
generate an intense shock wave causing the
detonation of subsequent elements. Delay elements
may be provided in the explosive train to delay the
propagation of detonation to the booster charge so
that the ammunition can penetrate in the target.

Contents 38
1.5 Components of Fuzes
• Relay elements may be provided to pick up the
explosive stimulus from detonator, augment it and
transmit it to the next element.
• Leads transmit the detonation wave from detonator
to the booster. Booster charge contains more
explosive and it amplifies the detonation wave to a
sufficient magnitude or maintains detonating
conditions for a long enough time to initiate the
main charge of the ammunition.
Contents 39
1.5 Components of Fuzes
• 1.5.4 Firing Mechanism: Once the ammunition is armed,
the fuze should initiate the explosion as per the performance
desired of the ammunition. Ammunition may be required to
explode after hitting the target or at a distance from the
target or at preset time after penetrating the target or after
recognizing some specified external circumstances. The
firing mechanism of the fuze should initiate the explosion as
per the design requirements. The target sensing mechanism
of the fuze senses the target (or proximity to it) either due to
impact or due to influence sensing (Doppler effect).

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1.5 Components of Fuzes
• A time fuze has a timer, which initiates the
explosion after a preset time varying from few
seconds to few minutes. Command fuzes initiate
their ammunition on impulses received after
launching. A combination of abovementioned
methods is also used in fuzes for increased
effectiveness and/or self-destruction. Once the target
is sensed, the detonator of the explosive train is
initiated by using firing pins or electrical stimulus
generated by electrical or electronic circuits.
Contents 41
1.6 Closure
• 1.6 Closure:
• Fuzes are one of the most important components of
the ammunition. Functioning and reliability of the
ammunition depends upon the performance of the
fuze. Basic requirements of the fuze are safing,
arming and firing and it requires a great effort from
the designer to incorporate the entire design feature
within limited space. The design of fuze and steps
involved in it are discussed in the next chapter.
Contents 42
CHAPTER 2
DESIGN OF FUZES
• 2.1 Introduction:
• Fuze is an example of complex modern design.
• Design and development of fuze may initiate either
because of requirement of the user (Defence
Forces),
• or because of some new brilliant idea or design
developed by the designer resulting in better or
improved fuzes for existing application

CONTENTS 43
2.1 Introduction
• In the first case, the designer is provided with the
functional objectives intended in the fuze and it is
designer’s job to decide whether the objectives can
be met by the improvement of an existing design or
it necessitates development of a new fuze.
• Designer has an idea of the physical parameters
required for the fuze and he has to develop the fuze
within the constraints mentioned in the user’s
requirement.
CONTENTS 44
2.1 Introduction
• In the latter case, the designer transforms his
concept or design into a physical fuze, which
performs a new function or satisfies some functional
objectives in a better way than the existing designs.
• The product is communicated to the supplying
agency and the user, and based on their feedback
and proofing results, the fuze is either developed
further for production or is discarded.

CONTENTS 45
2.1 Introduction
In either case,
• The designer must be thoroughly clear about the
design objectives of the fuze,
• The environmental condition in which it will work,
• The safety features required,
• Tradeoffs permissible,
• Critical and non-critical design objectives,
• Economics involved,
• Scope of productionization etc.
CONTENTS 46
2.2 Design Objectives for Fuzes
• The basic functional objectives of fuze may be
broadly expressed as Safing, Arming and Firing,
and performing the three functions reliably under all
conditions.
• However, there are many supplementary design
objectives, which are seldom expressed explicitly.
Essential design objectives of fuze are listed below.

CONTENTS 47
2.2 Design Objectives for Fuzes
1. Reliability of action.
2, Safety and resistance to deterioration in handling,
use and storage.
3. Simplicity of construction.
4. Adequate strength in use and for accidental
mishandling.
5. Compactness
6. Safety and ease of manufacture and loading.
7. Economy in manufacture.
CONTENTS 48
2.3 Approach to Design of Fuzes
• Design of fuze is conceptually similar to design of
any other device. Some of the essential ingredients
involved in the design of fuze are as follows.
1.Detailed study of explicitly stated and implicitly
involved design objectives and classification of
objectives as critical (must required) and non-
critical (desirable).

CONTENTS 49
2.3 Approach to Design of Fuzes
2. Developing of alternative means and systems to
achieve design objectives.
3. Analysis of every alternative based on its
capability to fulfill design objectives, resources
required, cost involved, manufacturability etc.
4. Development of a mathematical or logical model
i.e. a set of relations among the objectives,
alternate means, environment and resources.

CONTENTS 50
2.3 Approach to Design of Fuzes
5.Selection of best possible design satisfying all the
critical design objectives and most of non-critical
design objectives and which are economically
feasible and technically viable to manufacture

CONTENTS 51
2.4 Steps involved in Fuze Design
• The first step in the design of fuze is to understand
the fuze tactical requirements in detail and
considering possible mechanisms or
electrical/electronic circuits to meet them.
• Based on the design objectives and constraints, the
explosive train is established and basic arming,
firing and safing mechanisms are selected.
• Preliminary sketches are prepared keeping in mind
the functionality of the fuze and manufacturability.
CONTENTS 52
2.4 Steps involved in Fuze Design
• Next step is preparation of the drawings of every
mechanism and component, which can be utilized for
detailed design analysis.
• All tactical, environmental, safety and design requirements
of the fuze are reviewed critically. Forces acting on the
fuzes are calculated, material is selected and the design is
further refined.
• Performance with this design is calculated and reliability of
the design is estimated.
• Finally, detailed drawing of the fuze is made indicating all
dimensions, tolerances, and view.

CONTENTS 53
2.4 Steps involved in Fuze Design
• Prototypes are made from the final drawing and are
tested for their performance.
• Trials depend on the type of fuze, severity of
requirement, available time and funds.
• The evaluation must be realistic and reliable. The
components and sub-assemblies of the fuze are
tested thoroughly individually and in assembled
state.

CONTENTS 54
2.4 Steps involved in Fuze Design
• Final step in fuze development is proof testing and
acceptance testing.
• A sample is selected from the pilot lot and is tested
in actual ground conditions. The functioning and
reliability of the fuze is assessed and it is either
accepted for mass production or is returned to the
designer for further development or is discarded.

CONTENTS 55
2.5 Planning for Design of Fuzes at OFB
• The design activity of fuzes at OFB can be
planned in either or a combination of following
modes
ii) Through Reverse Engineering.
a) In this method, an imported fuze is dissembled
into all its components either at OF Khamaria or at
OF Chanda, who have boiling facilities.

CONTENTS 56
2.5 Planning for Design of Fuzes at OFB
a. The dissembled components are scanned to get the
cloud points, which can be used to generate the
solid model of the component.
For this purpose, an agreement exists between
OFB and CMERI, Durgapur, under which the
components can be forwarded to CMERI and they
provide with the cloud points.

CONTENTS 57
2.5 Planning for Design of Fuzes at OFB
a. The CDDs (Center for Design and Development) at MPF,
OFPM, OFC, RFI and OFAj are equipped with
Imageware, a reverse engineering software, through
which the output from CMERI is imported to obtain solid
model in Unigraphics, which can give component
drawings.
b. The materials are assigned to the components by material
testing of the components of the imported fuzes.

CONTENTS 58
2.5 Planning for Design of Fuzes at OFB
i. Through Re-engineering.
b. Formulation up to solid modeling is similar to the
procedure mentioned above in reverse engineering.
c. Materials are assigned by experience.
d. Testing loads are assigned to simulate and use.
e. After fixing “b” and “c”, finite element analysis is done
by using analysis software ANSYS to find out the
components are safe and will function under actual load
conditions (Inertial loads, Thermal loads, Electro-
magnetic loads). ANSYS is available at all CDDs.
CONTENTS 59
2.5 Planning for Design of Fuzes at OFB
iii Through Innovation over existing products
• In this case, various alternatives are thought for
achieving the intended function and the general
scheme of an existing design can be altered.
iv Through de-novo new designs
• In this case, by using the existing knowledge base
and, the principle and concepts already available
through collateral applications, a new design is
prepared.
CONTENTS 60
2.6 Closure
• Fuze development is a continuous process. Even
when one design is finalized and accepted, it may be
required to modify it to incorporate more features
into it or to increase its reliability.
• The pace of development of defence equipments
today is extremely fast and new fuzes are being
continuously developed to meet the extreme
functional requirements of new ammunitions.

CONTENTS 61
2.6 Closure
• Prior to 1960s, mechanical and electrical fuzes were
the only fuzes present.
• From the last 3 decades, electronic fuzes are
replacing mechanical and electrical fuzes from many
of their applications.
• Mechanical fuzes, their mechanism and their
features are discussed in next chapter, which will be
followed by the discussion of electronic fuzes in the
Chapter 4.
CONTENTS 62
CHAPTER 3
MECHANICAL FUZES
3.1 Introduction
• Mechanical fuzes have their safing, arming and
firing mechanisms consisting mostly of mechanical
components, linkages and mechanisms.
• Due to their simplicity and ease of
conceptualization, mechanical fuzes were the
earliest fuzes developed and are still used with many
types of ammunitions

CONTENTS 63
3.1 Introduction
• There can be various ways in which, mechanisms in
a fuze can be designed. Which design is superior
depends on the function of the fuze and the
perception of the designer.
• In the following sections, different mechanisms
commonly used in mechanical fuzes are discussed.

CONTENTS 64
3.2 Fuze Initiation or Firing Mechanisms
• The function of fuze initiation mechanism or firing
mechanism is to sense the target or environment,
and to initiate detonation in the explosive train when
the pre-specified external condition has been
achieved. Therefore, fuzes have target sensors
followed by initiating mechanism

CONTENTS 65
3.2.1 Target Sensing
• Target sensing depends on the task assigned to the
ammunition. Ammunition may be required to fire at
different locations or time depending on the desired
purpose.
• It may be required to fire on impact, after
penetrating the target, after preset time, at a distance
from target or any other condition.
• Target sensing methods used with mechanical fuzes
are discussed below.
CONTENTS 66
(i) Sensing by contact
• In this mode, fuzes initiate their action by contact
with the target. By modifying the mechanisms, the
fuze can be made to initiate as soon as the impact
takes place or after a time lag so that the
ammunition penetrates the target.
• Initiation of such fuzes is usually activated by the
mechanical action resulting from contacting the
target, for example, by moving a firing pin, by
closing a switch etc.
CONTENTS 67
(i) Sensing by contact
• Contact sensing can be applied in variety of ways. It
can be applied to initiate the burst on the target
surface itself when the fuze touches the target (Point
Detonating).
• It can be used to initiate the firing from behind the
ammunition when nose touches the target, so that
some time lag is introduced before the firing and the
ammunition penetrates the target (Base Detonating).

CONTENTS 68
(i) Sensing by contact
• Contact sensing can also be used for initiating burst
at a distance from the target, when nose senses the
target, firing initiates at the base, for example, fuzes
for High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) ammunition
(Point-Initiating, Base-Detonating).

CONTENTS 69
(ii) Presetting
• This type of sensing is achieved by a time fuze. The
fuze is designed to initiate at a fixed time after the
launch. A mechanical clockwork system is usually
employed for the purpose, which measure the time
after the launch and initiates the fuze after a
particular time has elapsed. However, the intervals
of time are limited in mechanical fuzes depending
on the clockwork mechanism used. The time at
which fuze should function is determined by the
type of target, distance of the target etc.

CONTENTS 70
(iii) Combination and Self Destruction
• Combination fuze incorporates features of both
impact fuze and time fuze. It functions either on
impact to the target or after a particular time. The
later option is also utilized for providing self-
destruction option especially for fuzes of ground-to-
air and air-to-air application

CONTENTS 71
3.2.3 Initiating Mechanisms
• Once the target sensor informs the fuze to initiate
the detonation, an initiating mechanism starts the
detonation chain.
• Many mechanisms with different operating
principles have been developed for the purpose.
These mechanisms require power to initiate the
detonation chain and time delays.

CONTENTS 72
3.2.3 Initiating Mechanisms
• In mechanical fuzes, the contact sensing (impact) or
presetting (clockwork mechanism) is converted
directly into mechanical movement of a firing pin,
which in turn is driven either into or against the first
element of the explosive chain.
• Functioning delays are usually obtained by
pyrotechnic delays, which form a part of explosive
train.

CONTENTS 73
(i) Initiation by Stab
• The principle involved in initiation by stab is that if a pin
punctures the primer case and enters a suitable explosive
charge, an explosion can be initiated.
• The firing pin usually is made up steel and aluminum alloy
and has the shape of a truncated cone.

Figure 3.1 Stab Initiator


and Detonator
CONTENTS 74
(i) Initiation by Stab
• A Stab detonator converts the mechanical impact of
the initiator (firing pin) into detonating wave is
shown in the Figure 3.1.

Figure 3.1 Stab Initiator


and Detonator

CONTENTS 75
(ii) Initiation by Percussion
• Contrary to initiation by stab, the firing pin does not
puncture the primer case in initiation by percussion.
Instead, the firing pin dents the case and pinches the
explosive between the case and a metal anvil
provided at the back.

Figure 3.2 Percussion


Initiator and Detonator

CONTENTS 76
(ii) Initiation by Percussion
• As the explosive is squeezed between the case and
the anvil, its granular structure fractures and
detonation wave is initiated. Percussion firing pins
usually have a semi-hemispherical tip (Figure 3.2).

Figure 3.2 Percussion


CONTENTS 77
Initiator and Detonator
(iii) Initiation by Adiabatic Compression
• This type of initiation does not require any firing
pin. On impact with the target, an air column
undergoes adiabatic compression resulting in
temperature rise, which can be used to detonate the
explosive charge (Figure 3.3)..

Figure 3.3 Initiation by


Adiabatic Compression

CONTENTS 78
(iii) Initiation by Adiabatic Compression
• Though simple in construction, this fuze is neither
sensitive nor reliable at low velocities and thin
targets, and is therefore seldom used.

Figure 3.3 Initiation by


Adiabatic Compression

CONTENTS 79
(iv) Initiation by Friction
• Heat generated by friction can be used to detonate
explosive charge in a fuze. The friction may be
generated by rubbing two surfaces together, an
example of which is a wire coated with friction
composition pulled through an ignition mix (Figure
3.4)
Figure3.4 Initiation by
Friction

CONTENTS 80
Simple firing mechanism
• A simple firing mechanism of a mechanical direct
action fuze is shown in the Figure 3.5. Due to
impact with the target, the firing pin extension
moves downwards forcing the firing pin into the
detonator and thus initiating the explosive train.

Figure 3.5 Simple Firing


Mechanism

CONTENTS 81
3.3 Explosive Train
• Explosive train amplifies a relatively weak stimulus
by initiating mechanism to detonate the main
charge. It is an assembly of explosive elements
arranged in the order of decreasing sensitivity

CONTENTS 82
3.3.1 Classification of Explosives
• Explosive materials are chemical substances, which
can undergo rapid chemical change without an
outside supply of oxygen, and with the liberation of
large quantities of energy generally accompanied by
the evolution of hot gases. These are mixtures of
certain fuels of extremely high calorific value and
oxidizers

CONTENTS 83
3.3.1 Classification of Explosives
• Explosives are classified as Low explosives and
High explosives. Low explosives are those in which
the advance of chemical reaction into the unreacted
explosive is less than the velocity of sound through
the undisturbed material. Low explosives normally
burn and deflagrate rather than detonate. Low
explosives may be gas producing or non-gas
producing. Due to their low rate of detonation, these
are not usually employed in the fuze explosive
trains.

CONTENTS 84
3.3.1 Classification of Explosives
• On the other hand, High explosives are those in
which the advance of chemical reaction into the
unreacted explosive exceeds the velocity of sound
through this explosive.
• High explosives are further classifies as Primary and
Secondary. Primary high explosives are sensitive in
initiation by both heat and shock (e.g. lead azide,
lead styphnate, diazodinitrophenol,
hexanitromannite).
CONTENTS 85
3.3.1 Classification of Explosives
• Therefore, these explosive form the initial elements
of the explosive trains. Secondary high explosive
are not readily initiated by heat or shock but rather
by an explosive shock from a primary explosive
(e.g. PETN, RDX, tetryl, TNT, picatrol etc.). These
explosive form the delay elements, relay elements
and booster charge in the fuze.

CONTENTS 86
3.3.2 Elements of an Explosive Train
• An explosive train consists of some initial elements
(primer, detonator etc.), which amplify the weak
stimulus provided by the initiator, and other
explosive elements (delay elements, relay elements,
booster charge etc.), which sustains and transmits
the amplified stimulus to the explosives in the shell.
• These elements of the explosive train are discussed
in further detail in the following sections

CONTENTS 87
3.3.3 Initial explosive components
• Initial explosive components of the explosive train are
generally primer and detonator, and are also referred to as
initiators. A primer is a relatively small, sensitive explosive
component, which serves as an energy transducer,
converting mechanical or electrical energy into explosive
energy.
• The explosive output is relatively small and is further
amplified and sustained by later elements of the explosive
train. Primer may not detonate itself but may induce
detonation of the successive elements

CONTENTS 88
3.3.3 Initial explosive components
• A detonator is a small sensitive component capable
of reliably initiating high order detonation in the
next high explosive of the explosive train.
• It differs from the primer in that its output is an
intense shock wave. It can be initiated directly by
mechanical or electrical means, or by the output
energy of the primer.

CONTENTS 89
3.3.3 Initial explosive components
• Typically, initiators and detonators have three
charges: a priming charge, an intermediate charge
and a base charge, although two of these charges
can be combined.
• Priming charge is similar to primer and is generally
made of lead azide or lead styphnate. Intermediate
charge is usually lead azide while the base charge
can be lead azide, PETN, tetryl or RDX.

CONTENTS 90
3.3.3 Initial explosive components
• Based on the initiating mechanisms, initiators can
be of following types.
i) Stab initiators: It consists of a cup loaded with
explosives and covered with a closing disc (Figure
3.1). It is sensitive to mechanical energy and is
initiated by puncturing the cup.

Figure 3.1 Stab Initiator and Detonator


CONTENTS 91
3.3.3 Initial explosive components
ii) Percussion primers: It consists of a cup filled
with a thin layer of primer mix and an anvil on the
other side (Figure 3.2). When the firing pin hits the
cup, the primer mix is squeezed between the cup
and the anvil, and the detonation starts. Thus,
percussion primers fire without puncturing the cup

Figure 3.2 Percussion


Initiator and Detonator

CONTENTS 92
3.3.3 Initial explosive components
• Flash detonators: They are similar to stab
initiator but they are sensitive to heat and initiate
due to heat generated by mechanical impact
• Electrical Primer and detonators: These
initiators function as a result of detonation of a
spot charge in the primer due to passage of
electrical energy through it.

CONTENTS 93
3.3.3 Initial explosive components
• The input to the initiator may be mechanical energy,
electrical energy or some other kind of energy input.
• The output of the initiator may be a shock wave, a
flame, hot gases etc. Selection of a suitable initiator
depends on the design features of the fuze and the
initiation properties of the other elements of the
explosive trains.

CONTENTS 94
3.3.4 Booster Charges
• This is the last element of the explosive train and it
contains more explosive than any other element.
The booster charge is initiated by one or several
leads or directly by a detonator. It amplifies the
detonation wave to a sufficient magnitude and
maintains detonating conditions for long enough
time to initiate the main charge of the ammunition.
The most common explosives for booster are Tetryl,
RDX, granular TNT, RDX –wax mixture and
PETN.

CONTENTS 95
3.3.5 Other explosive elements
• Some other explosive elements of the explosive
train are employed to sustain and amplify the output
of the initiators, and to pass it to booster charge.
Some of these elements are discussed below

CONTENTS 96
3.3.5 Other explosive elements
• Delay elements:
• Delay elements are incorporated into the explosive
train to enhance target damage by allowing the
missile to penetrate before exploding or to control
the timing of sequential operations. Delay
elements are the components providing time lag in
the explosive train. Generally, delay column burns
like a cigarette i.e. they are ignited at one end and
burn linearly.
CONTENTS 97
3.3.5 Other explosive elements
• Delay column are ignited by a suitable primer.
Explosives used in delay elements can be classified
as gas producing (e.g. Black powder) and Gasless
mixtures (e.g. metallic fuel plus oxidant). A typical
delay element is shown in the Figure 3.6.

Figure 3.6 Delay Elements

CONTENTS 98
3.3.5 Other explosive elements
(ii) Relays:
• Relays are small explosive elements used to
augment and transmit the weak explosive stimulus
of the initiator or delay element to the next
components of the explosive train. Nearly all relays
are loaded with Lead Azide, a primary explosive.

Figure 3.7 Relays

CONTENTS 99
3.3.5 Other explosive elements
(iii) Leads
• The purpose of the leads is to transmit the
detonation wave from the detonator to the booster.
Tetryl and RDX are the most common explosives
for leads. The efficiency of the lead depends upon
explosive density, confinement length and diameter

CONTENTS 100
3.3.5 Other explosive elements
• A simple explosive train in the fuze consisting of detonator,
lead and booster is as shown in the Figure 3.8.

Figure 3.8 Simple Explosive Train (a) Unarmed


state (b) Armed state

CONTENTS 101
3.4 Safing Mechanisms
• The tactical requirements of a fuze necessitate the
use of extremely sensitive explosive train, which
responds to small impact forces, heat and electrical
stimulus.
• This introduces a very important design
consideration while designing fuze: safety during
manufacture, loading, transportation, storage, and
assembly with the ammunition.

CONTENTS 102
3.4 Safing Mechanisms
• Safety enters into every facet of fuze design and
development. The present design philosophy entails
the fuze to have at least two safing features, either
one capable of preventing unintended detonation.
• The concept is that there is low probability of both
the safety features failing simultaneously. The main
safety features incorporated in mechanical fuzes and
mechanisms to achieve them are discussed below.

CONTENTS 103
3.4 Safing Mechanisms
3.4.1 Detonator Safe:
Fuzes are designed to be detonator safe i.e.
functioning of the detonator will not initiate
subsequent explosive train components prior to
arming. The basic method to achieve this is by an
interrupted explosive train by mechanical
separation or open switches.

CONTENTS 104
3.4 Safing Mechanisms
The interrupter should have a positive lock while in
safe position. The detonator should be assembled in
safe position so that fuze is safe during all final
assembly steps and during subsequent handling.

CONTENTS 105
3.4 Safing Mechanisms
• An example of detonator safe fuze is shown in the
Figure 3.9.

Figure 3.9 (a) Fuze in (b) Fuze in armed state


Safe state

CONTENTS 106
3.4.2 Bore Safe:
• Fuze must also be bore safe i.e. the detonator should
not initiate the bursting charge while the projectile is
in launching tube.
• This can be achieved by the time lag required by the
arming mechanism to function or by adding a
separate time measuring device to delay the arming
of the fuze until the ammunition has left the
launcher

CONTENTS 107
3.4.2 Bore Safe:
• Figure 3.10 gives an
example of bore safe fuze
by introducing a rotary
shutter with a hole. The
rotary shutter has a hole
through which, the firing
pin can strike the
Figure 3.10 (a) (b) Fuze in
detonator. In the safe state, armed state
Fuze in Safe state
the hole in the shutter is
out of line with the firing
pin and detonator.
. CONTENTS 108
3.4.2 Bore Safe:
• After the firing, the
shutter aligns itself with
some mechanism to
bring the firing pin, hole
in the shutter and
detonator in the same
line. The fuze is now in
(b) Fuze in
armed state and will Figure 3.10 (a)
armed state
Fuze in Safe state
function on impact

CONTENTS 109
3.4.3 Partial Arming Proof:
• The fuze must never
remain in the partially
armed state. As soon as the
force that cause the partial
arming is removed, the
fuze must return to the
unarmed state. One-way to
avoid partial arming is as
Figure 3.11 A mechanism to
shown in the Figure 3.11. prevent partial arming

CONTENTS 110
3.4.3 Partial Arming Proof:
• Consider a plate loaded
with a spring to prevent
its rotation and is
required to be rotated by
1800 to accomplish
arming. Figure 3.11(a)
shows the mechanism in
unarmed state.
Figure 3.11 A mechanism to
prevent partial arming

CONTENTS 111
3.4.3 Partial Arming Proof:
• An external force Fapp is
applied to rotate the plate.
Due to applied force, the
plate rotates against the
spring force and a
restoring force Fres also
acts on the plate. When the
plate turns partially say
Figure 3.11 A mechanism to
900 (Figure 3.11 b), the prevent partial arming
applied force is removed.
CONTENTS 112
3.4.3 Partial Arming Proof:
• Due to the restoring spring
force, the plate returns to its
initial unarmed state (Figure
3.11 c). For arming, complete
rotation of plate is required and
therefore, applied force Fapp is
applied throughout the rotation
so that the plate cannot return
back due to restoring spring
force and is finally locked in Figure 3.11 A mechanism to
prevent partial arming
the armed state (Figure 3.11 d,
e, f). CONTENTS 113
3.4.4 Arming Indicator:
• An arming indicator is sometime provided in the
fuze to indicate whether the fuze is in armed or
unarmed state.
• An anti-insertion feature may also be provided by
which, the fuze cannot be inserted in their
ammunition cavity if it has been accidentally armed.

CONTENTS 114
3.5 Arming Mechanisms
• The arming process consists of aligning the
elements of explosive train and/or in removing the
barriers along the train. The main considerations in
selection of a suitable arming mechanism are that
sufficient energy should be available for the arming
purpose and the arming should take place at a safe
distance from the launcher

CONTENTS 115
3.5 Arming Mechanisms
• The energy required for arming can be provided by
the forces experienced by the fuze during launch or
by some external energy source. These sources
depend on the ballistic environment experienced by
the fuze. These ballistic environments and energy
sources are discussed in some detail in the
subsequent sections

CONTENTS 116
3.5 Arming Mechanisms
• The second objective can be met by incorporation of
a time measuring device in the arming mechanism
by which the arming can take place only after some
time after the fuze has left the launcher and is at safe
distance from it.
• Sometime, the time involved in mechanism to
function is itself large enough to satisfy the safety
requirement during arming. Various mechanisms
used for arming of fuze are discussed in detail later.
CONTENTS 117
3.5.1 Ballistic Environments
• The energy available at the time of launch depends
upon the ballistic conditions experienced by the
fuze, which may be of following types:
• high acceleration,
• low acceleration
• and gravity acceleration

CONTENTS 118
3.5.1 Ballistic Environments
• (i) High Acceleration: Projectiles fired from small
arms, guns, howitzers, mortars, and rifles etc.
experience acceleration of the order of ‘40,000g’
and are subjected to ballistic environment called
High acceleration. Projectile launched with high
acceleration may be either spin stabilized or fin
stabilized.

CONTENTS 119
3.5.1 Ballistic Environments
• Spin stabilized high acceleration projectiles are
subjected to setback force, centrifugal force,
tangential force and creep force. Fin stabilized
projectiles are also subjected to all the forces
mentioned above except those resulting from spin of
the projectile (centrifugal forces).

CONTENTS 120
3.5.1 Ballistic Environments
• (ii) Low Acceleration: Some projectiles (rockets)
carry their own propellant and propellant is
consumed during the flight. These ammunitions are
thus launched with relatively lesser force and are
subjected to ballistic environment called Low
acceleration. There is not much setback force and
hence, other forces are used for arming purposes.

CONTENTS 121
3.5.1 Ballistic Environments
• (iii) Gravity Acceleration: Airplane bombs are
often dropped at a height and are subjected to
acceleration equal to that of gravity. Fuzes for such
ammunition experiences aerodynamic and
barometric forces. So either of these force are
utilized for arming or manual arming may be
provide as in hand grenades

CONTENTS 122
3.5.2 Energy Source for Arming:
• Generally, the forces experienced during the launch
of the ammunition (setback force) and flight (torque,
centrifugal force, creep etc.) are large enough to
fulfill the energy requirements of arming
mechanisms. However, if the external forces are
small or if their effect is comparable to that created
by rough handling, a separate power source is
provided in the fuze. Some of these energy sources
are discussed below.

CONTENTS 123
3.5.2 Energy Source for Arming:
• Setback: It is the relative rearward movement of
the component in the ammunition undergoing
forward acceleration during launch)
• Creep: It is the tendency of the components of the
fuze to move forward as the ammunition slows
down due to drag force by air friction and
resistance during flight.
• Centrifugal force: This is the force experienced
due to rotation of the spin-stabilized projectile
during the flight.
CONTENTS 124
3.5.2 Energy Source for Arming:
• Tangential force: This is the force experienced
by spring-loaded weights under the application of
angular velocity.
• Coriolis force: It is the force experienced by a
ball in a radial slot, which rotates at an angular
velocity. This is seldom used for arming purpose.

CONTENTS 125
3.5.2 Energy Source for Arming:
• Torque: It is the effect of force acting at a
distance (by lever arm). It produces angular
acceleration of a part.
• Forces of the Air Stream: This force is due to
airflow past the propeller blades and is used to
turn propellers in bombs and rockets.

CONTENTS 126
3.5.2 Energy Source for Arming:
viii) Ambient Pressure: Ambient pressure is very
high at sea floors and can be used for arming in
sea mines and depth charges.
ix) Setforward: Setforward force is the reaction force
experienced when the ammunition is rammed into
an automatic weapon. It is opposite to setback
force and acts in the direction of projectile travel.

CONTENTS 127
3.5.2 Energy Source for Arming:
• Sideways: Perfect alignment of projectile with the gun
cannot be achieved practically. Thus, during launch, the
projectile tries to align itself with the gun resulting in
force called sideways.
• Non-environmental energy sources: When none of the
above mentioned force is strong enough to provide
necessary energy for arming of fuze, auxiliary power
sources are provided. Springs may be used in compressed
stage to store and deliver energy. Batteries may be used to
turn a rotor or close a switch and cause arming.
Explosives burn to produce heat and gases and the
pressure developed by them can also be utilized for
arming purpose.
CONTENTS 128
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
• Fuzes operated by mechanical devices make use
of mechanical linkages like springs, gears, sliders,
rotors and plungers, or a combination of them.
Some of these mechanisms are discussed below
i) Springs: Springs provide a reservoir for stored
energy, which can be conveniently accommodated
in the fuze and can be used over the 20-year shelf
life required for the fuze.

CONTENTS 129
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
• There are three general types of spring used in fuze
arming mechanism.
• The Flat Leaf spring is a thin beam, which creates
tensile and compressive stresses when it bends.
• The Flat Spiral spring wounds into a spiral and
releases energy during unwinding.
• The Helical Coil spring is a wire coil, in which
shear stress is introduced when the coil is deflected.
Various springs used with fuzes are as follows.
CONTENTS 130
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
(a) Belleville spring: This spring is normally used with
land mines. When a force is applied in one of its
equilibrium position, the spring flattens and moves rapidly
to its other equilibrium position causing initiation.

Figure 3.12 Belleville Spring


(a) Initial Position (b) Final Position (Firing)

CONTENTS 131
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
(b) Power Springs: These are flat spiral springs used to
drive clockworks and are also called mainsprings. Springs
are usually contained in a hollow case to which one end of
the spring is attached and the other end is attached to an
arbor.
(c) Hairsprings: These are special spiral springs which
differ from power springs on two counts (i) the number of
coil is large and space in-between in small, (ii) the spring is
small.
(d) Constant Force Springs: These are spiral springs, so
wound that they provide constant force caused while
unwinding. These are also called negators.

CONTENTS 132
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
ii) Sliders: Many fuze components such as
interrupters and lock pins are basically sliders,
which are moved by spring forces or inertia forces
(setback, creep, centrifugal etc.). Sliders are usually
held in their initial position using springs. Slider
may move along the axis the of the fuze or
perpendicular to it or at an angle to it.

CONTENTS 133
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
• When the slider is to move along the axis of the
fuze, it is held in initial position by a spring force
and due to setback force experienced at launch,
the slider moves within the ammunition against
the spring force in accordance with the Newton’s
law of conservation of momentum. When the
slider is to move at an angle to or perpendicular to
the axis of the fuze, it is held in initial position by
lock pins and is driven either by spring force or by
centrifugal force.

CONTENTS 134
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
iii) Rotary Devices: Rotary devices are pivoted so
that they can turn through a specified angle only and
the rotation may be caused by centrifugal forces, air
stream effects or unwinding springs. These devices
follow the general principle that the rotor turns until
the moment of inertia of the rotor with respect to the
ammunition spin axis is a maximum. Some of these
devices are as follows

CONTENTS 135
a) Disk Rotor: It rotates in a plane perpendicular to
the axis of the fuze to align the firing pin and the
detonator. (Figure 3.9)

Figure 3.9 (a) Fuze in (b) Fuze in armed state


Safe state

CONTENTS 136
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
• Centrifugal Pendulum: It is a bar pivoted at its
center and rotates in a plane perpendicular to the
axis of the fuze.
• Simple Plunger: This device operates by
centrifugal forces and due to its asymmetry about
the pivot, it releases with a preferred orientation to
cause arming

CONTENTS 137
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
d) Sequential Arming Segment: This device
consists of series of pivoted segments held in
position by springs. When a sustained acceleration
occurs, each segment rotates through an angle
causing the release of next segment and the rotation
of the last segment disengages a spring held rotor to
cause the arming action in the fuze

CONTENTS 138
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
e) Rotary Shutter: It is an
unsymmetrical disc pivoted
at the center of the
semicircular part and rotates
due to centrifugal forces.
Rotation of disc locates the
hole such that the firing pin
aligns with the detonator
through the hole. An
example of such shutter is Figure 3.10 (a) (b) Fuze in
shown in Figure 3.10. Fuze in Safe state armed state

CONTENTS 139
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
f) Ball Cam Rotor: It has a stationary part with a slot, a rotor with a
spirally cut slot and a ball. The ball engages the rotor with the
stationary part and due to the centrifugal forces, the rotor moves
with a fixed angular velocity. Thus, this mechanism can be used to
introduce mechanical time delays in the fuze.

Figure 3.13 Ball-Cam Rotor

CONTENTS 140
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
g) Ball Rotor: It is a ball having a detonator cavity,
initially held in unarmed state by detents such that
the firing pin and detonator cavity are misaligned.
The rotation of the ball against centrifugal forces
causes the alignment of firing pin and detonator
cavity and hence the fuze is armed.

CONTENTS 141
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
iv) Clockworks: Clockworks are mechanisms used
to establish mechanical time delays in the fuzes.
Clockworks have many parts but their principle
parts are escapements and gear trains. Escapements
are the regulators of the mechanical time fuzes while
the gear trains are their transducers. It consists of a
toothed wheel actuated by applied torque, a pallet
with two teeth and a spring mass mechanism
oscillating without any restoring force.

CONTENTS 142
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
• When the escape wheel turns, one pallet tooth is
pushed along the escape wheel tooth and the other
pallet engages the escape wheel. The same process
is repeated every time the escape wheel turns and
thus it acts as an oscillating system, which can be
used as time counter. Clockwork mechanism can
be used to arm the fuze only after it had travel safe
distance from the launcher and for creating
delayed initiation for time fuzes.

CONTENTS 143
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
v)Minor Mechanical Devices: Various minor
mechanical devices such as pins, detents, links,
knobs, levers, pivots etc serves various important
purposes in the fuze. Pins are used for locking
purposes and can be broken or moved for unlocking.
Links are not desirable in the fuzes as they require
space to operate but some links may be incorporated
in fuzes to transmit motion from one part to another.

CONTENTS 144
3.5.3 Mechanical Arming Devices:
• Detents are short rods whose purpose is to restrict
motion of other member by exerting their shear
strength. Knobs are used to select or set fuze
functions. Levers are used to restrict the motion of
another part by a locking action. Spiral unwinder
system provides arming delays in fuzes due to effect
of projectile spin.

CONTENTS 145
3.6 Features of Mechanical Fuzes:
The main features of mechanical fuzes are as follows.
2 Mechanical fuzes are simple in construction. Most
of the components are simple mechanical links and
can be easily designed and manufactured.
3 Mechanical fuzes can reliably operated in electro-
magnetic environment, where electronic fuze may
malfunction due to electromagnetic interference
(EMI).

CONTENTS 146
3.7 Limitations with Mechanical Fuzes
• Mechanical fuzes have some limitations associated
with it, which are discussed hereunder
1 Mechanical fuze cannot function as proximity
fuzes as there is no target sensing mechanism to
sense a target at a distance and initiates the fuze.

CONTENTS 147
3.7 Limitations with Mechanical Fuzes
1 Mechanical fuze can be designed as time fuze, but the
number of time interval options possible is limited.
Besides, timing mechanisms are often of complicated
design and are therefore undesirable for mass production.
Time mechanisms require manual setting, which is
undesirable for modern high firing rate weapons. Manual
setting also introduces element of human error during
setting and reduces reliability of the fuze
2 Miniaturization is possible in mechanical fuze only to a
limited extend, whereas the electronic fuzes can be
designed into a compact miniaturized unit.

CONTENTS 148
3.8 Closure
• Mechanical fuze were the first fuze developed mainly due to
their simple construction and functioning. They have been
serving their purpose effectively and efficiently for last
century. However, the new requirements of modern warfare
require intelligent fuzes, which can have more than one
mode of operation. Electronic fuzes are the present
generation fuzes that have replaced mechanical fuzes from
many applications especially from time fuzes. These are
discussed in detail in the next chapter

CONTENTS 149
CHAPTER 4
ELECTRONIC FUZES
4.1 Introduction
• Basic functions of fuze are safing, arming, target
sensing and firing. Mechanical Fuzes achieve these
objectives by less accurate and unreliable
mechanisms whereas Electronic fuze achieves these
functions by means of electronic circuits or with a
combination of both electronic circuits and
mechanical mechanisms.

CONTENTS 150
4.1 Introduction
• In particular, safing and arming functions are
combinely achieved by electronic and mechanical
mechanisms. The target sensing and firing are
achieved by electronic circuits. In this chapter, the
advantages of electronic fuzes, basic elements of
electronic fuzes and basics of different types of
electronic fuzes are discussed.

CONTENTS 151
4.2 Advantages of electronic fuzes
• Necessity of electronic fuze basically arises from the
limitations of other existing fuze systems. The
conventional mechanical fuzes contain all the
necessary systems for performing their function but
the intelligence integrated in the fuze is absent.
• Integration of electronics into fuze adds the required
intelligence to the system and makes it more
accomplished to do its job. Advantages of electronic
fuzes over conventional mechanical fuzes are
described below
CONTENTS 152
4.2 Advantages of electronic fuzes
i) Proximity fuze action is possible only with
electronic fuze. A great practical advantage of
this type of fuze over conventional time fuze is
that it relieves the gunner of the responsibility of
fuze setting.
• He has to only ensure that ammunition passes
within lethal range to the target and the fuze does
the rest.

CONTENTS 153
4.2 Advantages of electronic fuzes
(ii) precise time setting with a wide discrete range,
programmability and remote setting facility is
possible with the advent of programmable electronic
time (et) fuze.
(iii) universal fuze gives user more flexibility to
choose the fuze action as per his requirements. The
universal fuze also helps the user to reduce
inventory list as the same fuze can be used in many
applications.
CONTENTS 154
4.2 Advantages of electronic fuzes
(iv) electronic fuzes are light-weight and compact as
compared to conventional mechanical fuze. This
gives extra space to fill the explosive.
(v) electronic safety circuits are value additions to the
overall safety of the fuze, making handling and
transport easier and safer.

CONTENTS 155
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
• The basic electronic circuits and components
required to make an electronic fuze are discussed in
the following.
(a) Antenna: This is generally a loop type antenna
used to radiate the RF waves received from RF
oscillator. Fuze body also forms a part of antenna
and helps to radiate the RF waves. The design of
antenna and fundamentals of wave propagation can
be found in F.1 and F.2 of Bibliography.
CONTENTS 156
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
(b) Radio frequency generator, transmitter and
receiver: An oscillator circuit is used to generate
the RF waves of required frequency, which are to be
transmitted through antenna. This is a combined
transmitter and receiver/detector, which sends out
waves of radio frequency and receives them again
after reflection from the target.

CONTENTS 157
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
• The interaction of the waves produces ripple
impulses of audio frequency. The design principles
of various communication systems can be studied in
detail in F.3 and F.4 of Bibliography

CONTENTS 158
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
(c) Signal processor unit: This is generally an audio
frequency amplifier circuit. This is called signal
processor unit, as it amplifies the weak audio
frequency signal received by detector. The output of
signal processor unit is a trigger pulse, which is
utilized by firing circuit to trigger its electronic
switch. The detailed study of analog circuit and their
design can be found in F.5 and F.6 of Bibliography.

CONTENTS 159
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
(d) Electronic Time delay circuit: This is a counter
based time delay circuit, which provides the
necessary time delay after firing to the time of
function of fuze. Depending on the requirement time
delay circuit can be of simple or complex nature.
Simple time delay circuit contains a single counter,
which will have a fix count and hence a single time
delay (e.g. fix 10 seconds ± tolerance) of specified
amount can be achieved.

CONTENTS 160
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
• If more than one-time delay options are required,
multiple counter circuit with a selectable switch is
required. For example, if one wants to have a fuze
with a time delay options of 10 sec or 50 sec or 100
sec ± tolerance, then three counter circuit with a
selectable switch would be required. Further if one
wants a range of time delay e.g. from 0 sec to 200
sec ± tolerance, then a programmable counter circuit
would be needed.

CONTENTS 161
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
• The timer circuits can also be implemented on
FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). FPGA can
be used to implement any digital logic circuit
required by user and as the name suggests it can be
programmed at field i.e. by user at his requirement.
The detailed study of various digital logic circuits
and their design principles can be found in F.7 of
Bibliography.

CONTENTS 162
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
(e) Electronic safety circuit: This is generally an
electronic time delay circuit which enables the firing
mechanism after some specified time to ensure that
fuze does not function prematurely in any case.

CONTENTS 163
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
(f) Power supply: Power supply is generally a reserve type of
primary battery with the electrolyte contained in a glass
ampoule, which is broken by set – back force on firing the
gun. It acts as a safety mechanism as it prevents the
electronic circuit from getting power and hence preventing
any premature or accidental explosion. Air driven
alternators are also used as source of power supply in
electronic fuzes now a days. Air driven alternator utilizes
the airflow in the fuze to generate the required electric
voltage

CONTENTS 164
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
(g) Impact switch: This switch is normally open
while handling and transporting the fuze. It closes
when fuze is fired and hits any hard object. This
switch is placed in the path of condenser of firing
circuit and electric detonator. When the switch
closes, it allows the condenser to get discharge into
electric detonator. It is a mechanical switch and is
used in electronic point detonation fuze or in fuzes
where point detonation action is required as back up
mode if the fuze does not function in its set mode.

CONTENTS 165
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
(h) Firing circuit: It consists of a grid condenser,
electronic switch (Thyristor, or MOSFET transistor
or thyratron), and electric detonator. The electric
detonator is a bridge wire element some times also
referred to as an electronic blasting cap. The bridge
wire element consisted of small metal wire or a thin
strip of carbon film in parallel with a total resistance
value of about 700 to 15, 000 ohms.

CONTENTS 166
4.3 Basic elements of electronic
fuzes:
• Electronic switch is closed on receipt of trigger pulse of
appropriate magnitude from audio amplifier circuit and the
grid condenser is discharged into electric detonator to
initiate the explosive train.

Figure 4.1: Firing Circuit


CONTENTS 167
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
(i) Safety switch and mechanical arming/safety
systems: The safety switch is used to connect the
two entities on experiencing a force such as
acceleration force of certain magnitude or spin of
certain rpm or air flow of certain magnitude. This is
a mechanical system, similar to one used in
mechanical fuzes

CONTENTS 168
4.3 Basic elements of electronic fuzes:
• To make a particular type of electronic fuze the
required modules are implemented on Printed
Circuit Board (PCB) and interfaced to have the
required fuze action. The modules can be
implemented in a single PCB or more than one
PCB. The electronic modules are individually tested
and then interfaced with the rest of the sub-
assemblies to make the complete fuze. The
complete fuze is then tested for the required
performance parameters.
CONTENTS 169
4.4 Types of electronic fuze
• Depending upon the target sensing mechanism and
electronic circuitry involved, the electronic fuzes are
classified in following types.
(i) Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
(ii) Electronic Time (ET) Fuze.
(iii) Electronic Point Detonation (EPD) Fuze.
(iv) Universal Fuze

CONTENTS 170
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• The Radio Proximity Fuzes are also called Variable
Time (VT) Fuze as the operation time varies with
the range of the target. The proximity fuze is a self-
contained radio controlled fuze capable of
transmitting waves of radio frequency, and of
receiving a portion of these waves, which may be
reflected by the target. The fuze fires when the
returning signal is of sufficient strength, due to
proximity to the target, to trigger the firing circuit.

CONTENTS 171
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• Essentially, the fuze is an extremely rugged radio
transmitting and receiving station, which fits into
the nose of a projectile. The Radio PRX fuze may be
defined as “A fuze wherein primary initiation
occurs by remotely sensing the presence, distance,
and/or direction of a target or its associated
environment by means of a signal generated by the
fuze or emitted by the target, or by detecting a
disturbance of a natural field surrounding the
target.”

CONTENTS 172
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• The proximity fuzes are particularly very useful in
ground to air and air to ground applications where
the probability of hitting the target is less. Using
proximity fuze increases the probability of target
destruction as now we need to only bring the
ammunition in the vicinity of target and fuze does
the rest.

CONTENTS 173
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
(i) Fundamental make-up: The radio proximity fuze
basically consists of an antenna, oscillator/detector,
audio frequency amplifier, electronic safety circuit,
Power supply, firing circuit and other mechanical
safety and arming sub-assemblies. The block
diagram of a Proximity fuze is as follow.

CONTENTS 174
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
(ii) Working principle: Proximity fuzes functions on the
principle of Doppler effect. The Doppler effect states that, if
there is a relative motion between two objects then the
frequency of reflected waves would be different from that of
transmitted waves. If the two objects approach each other
than the frequency of reflected waves is greater than that of
transmitted waves and if they move in apposite direction
than frequency of reflected waves is less than that of
transmitted waves. The difference in frequency can be
utilized to sense the target.

CONTENTS 175
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.

CONTENTS 176
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• The working principle of the PRX fuze shown in block diagram is as
follows. The power supply is activated only after firing the
ammunition by utilizing setback force. The rest of the circuitry gets
the power through safety switch and starts functioning.

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.

CONTENTS 177
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• The proximity sensor unit (RF oscillator/detector) gets power after a delay as set in
‘Time delay unit’. This is to ensure that proximity sensor gets activated only in the
later part of trajectory of projectile and hence reducing any possibility of jamming
or influence from other electro-magnetic signals.

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.

CONTENTS 178
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• The RF oscillator/detector generates the RF waves of required frequency, which are
then transmitted by antenna. The radio waves travel at the speed of light in space.
These waves will be reflected back to the oscillator by any target that gives a radio
reflection, such as metal objects, water, or earth.

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.

CONTENTS 179
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• The detector receives some of the RF waves reflected from the target. The
transmitted and reflected waves interfere with each other to give a beat frequency.
The amplifier circuit amplifies the beat frequency, which is in audio frequency
range.

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.

CONTENTS 180
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• The electronic safety circuit delays the path of power to reach firing circuit and
hence delaying the firing condenser to get charged till a certain time is lapsed after
firing the ammunition from the gun. This ensures safety during firing of ammunition
and avoids any premature functioning of the fuze.

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.

CONTENTS 181
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• The condenser is charged by power supply voltage before the firing circuit receives
signal from audio amplifier, setting safety time in electronic safety circuit much less
than the total flight time ensures this. Once the condenser is charged, the projectile
is “armed” and ready to detonate when a target influences to do it so.

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.

CONTENTS 182
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• The output of amplifier is coupled to the electronic switch of firing
circuit to trigger the firing mechanism of the fuze. At first the
projectile is so far from the target that the strength of reflected waves
and hence output signal of amplifier is too weak to trigger the firing
circuit.

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.

CONTENTS 183
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• As the proximity fuze projectile approaches the target, the
amplitude of the beat frequency produced in the detector
circuit increases and hence the output of audio amplifier
also increases.

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.


CONTENTS 184
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• When the projectile reaches a specified position relative to the target
and hence the output of the audio amplifier reaches a certain level, the
electronic switch of firing circuit is closed and the path between firing
condenser and electric detonator is completed.

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.

CONTENTS 185
4.4.1 Radio Proximity (PRX) Fuze
• The firing condenser is discharged into the electric
detonator dissipating sufficient energy to start the
detonation process.

Figure 5.2: Block diagram of a Proximity fuze.

CONTENTS 186
4.4.2 Electronic Time (ET) fuze:
• ET fuze uses electronic time delay circuits to
introduce the delay between firing of the
ammunition and its explosion. The electronic time
delay circuits are implemented with the help of
counter Integrated Circuits (ICs). The configuration
of counter decides the delay time, which can be
altered by changing the circuit parameters.
Programmable counters with hand held setters are
used now a days in modern ET fuzes.

CONTENTS 187
4.4.2 Electronic Time (ET) fuze:
• ET fuze may be defined as “A fuze that contains a
graduated time element to regulate the time interval
after which the fuze will function.” Electronic Time
(ET) fuze are used in applications where the range
of the target is known and ammunition is required to
function after a predetermined time & also in smoke
and illumination rounds.

CONTENTS 188
4.4.2 Electronic Time (ET) fuze:
(i) Fundamental make-up: The ET fuze basically
consists of an electronic time delay circuit,
electronic safety circuit, power supply, firing circuit,
and other mechanical sub-assemblies. The block
diagram of an ET fuze is as follows.

CONTENTS 189
4.4.2 Electronic Time (ET) fuze:

Figure 5.3: Block diagram of an Electronic Time fuze

CONTENTS 190
4.4.2 Electronic Time (ET) fuze:
(ii) Working principle: The power supply is activated
by exploiting setback force. The safety switch
hinders the path of power supply to electronic time
delay unit and electronic safety circuit. Safety
switch is closed either by setback force itself or by
spin force of specified magnitude or by any other
mechanism (it depends on design).

CONTENTS 191
4.4.2 Electronic Time (ET) fuze:
• The safety switch is closed and the power is applied
to electronic safety circuit and electronic time delay
unit simultaneously. The ET fuze usually have two
types of specifications for time delay one is the
‘safety time’ which is determined by the time setting
of the electronic safety circuit and the other one is
the ‘operation time’ which is determined by the time
setting of the electronic time delay unit.

CONTENTS 192
4.4.2 Electronic Time (ET) fuze:
• The ‘safety time’ and ‘operation time’ can be factory set or,
if fuze is programmable, they can be set by user depending
on his requirement. The electronic safety circuit stops the
firing condenser of firing circuit to get charged for a
specified safety time. When the specified safety time is
lapsed, the electronic safety circuit enables the firing
condenser to get power from power supply and charge to
the required potential. The time delay unit starts counting as
soon as it gets power from power supply.

CONTENTS 193
4.4.2 Electronic Time (ET) fuze:
• The factory set time or user set time (if the timer is
programmable) is counted by the counter and upon
lapse of this time interval time delay unit generates a
trigger pulse. Trigger pulse is applied at the trigger
input of the electronic switch of the firing circuit,
which in turn closes the path between firing
condenser and electric detonator. The energy stored
in firing condenser is dissipated in the electric
detonator, which starts the detonation process

CONTENTS 194
4.4.3 Electronic Point Detonation (EPD)
Fuze
• EPD fuze is the simplest type of electronic fuze. It functions
when the projectile hits any hard object. The impact switch
acts as the target sensor i.e. as soon as projectile hits the
target the switch closes and causes detonation. EPD fuze
action is also used as a back up mode in most of the modern
Proximity and Electronic Time fuzes to ensure that if fuze
does not function in its set mode (PRX or ET) than it
functions at least on hitting some hard object. Electronic
point detonation fuze may be defines as “A fuze that is set
in action by the striking of a projectile or bomb against an
object”.
CONTENTS 195
4.4.3 Electronic Point Detonation (EPD)
Fuze
(i) Fundamental make-up: The EPD fuze consists of
impact switch, power supply, firing circuit,
electronic safety circuit, and other mechanical sub-
assemblies. Block diagram of an EPD fuze is as
follows.

CONTENTS 196
4.4.3 Electronic Point Detonation (EPD)
Fuze

Figure5.4: Block diagram of an EPD fuze

CONTENTS 197
4.4.3 Electronic Point Detonation (EPD)
Fuze
(ii) Working principle: The EPD fuze has very less
electronics integrated in it. Electronic circuits
perform only firing and safety functions. The power
supply is activated by setback force as soon as the
ammunition is fired. The electronic safety circuit
counts the time and upon lapse of set time, it feed
the power to firing circuit and the condenser of
firing circuit gets charge by the power supply.

CONTENTS 198
4.4.3 Electronic Point Detonation (EPD)
Fuze
• Once this condenser is charged, the projectile is
“armed” and ready to detonate when projectile hits a
hard object. The impact switch closes when
projectile hits an object and triggers firing circuit.
The path between the firing condenser of firing
circuit and electric detonator is closed by impact
switch and energy stored in firing condenser is
dissipated into the electric detonator, which then
starts the detonation process.

CONTENTS 199
4.4.4 Universal fuze
• The definition of Universal Fuze is not unique, one may
define universal fuze in his own way. The idea of Universal
fuze is to make a single type of fuze, which can be used in
many applications. This provides user more flexibility in
managing his inventory. The Universal fuze can be defined
in terms of its applicability to multi caliber systems in same
ammunition type, or applicability to multiple ammunitions,
or both multiple caliber and multiple ammunitions.
Following may be one set of universal fuze.

CONTENTS 200
4.4.4 Universal fuze
(i) Programmable Electronic Time Fuze with EPD
back up: The programmable ET fuze can be used in
multiple caliber ammunitions since the user has the
luxury to set the operation time depending on
caliber of ammunition. With programmability of
operation time, it also has EPD mode as back up or
option to set EPD as operation mode

CONTENTS 201
4.4.4 Universal fuze
(ii) Programmable Proximity Fuze with EPD back-
up: The programmable PRX fuze can be used in
multiple caliber ammunitions since the user has the
luxury to set the Height-of-Burst, depending on
caliber of ammunition. With programmability of
Height-of-Burst, it also has EPD mode as back up or
option to set EPD as operation mode

CONTENTS 202
4.4.4 Universal fuze
(iii) Multi-Option Fuze (MOF): The Multi-Option
fuze has all three modes of operation: Proximity
(PRX), Electronic Time (ET) and Electronic Point
Detonation (PD). The EPD mode can be selected as
operation mode or it can be set as back up mode
with PRX or ET mode. The user has the luxury to
select the operation mode either PRX or ET with or
with EPD back up or EPD mode only as operation
mode.
CONTENTS 203
4.4.4 Universal fuze
• In ET mode, the operation time can be set by the
user, making it useful in all caliber ammunitions.
Similarly, in PRX mode the Height-of-Burst can be
set by user, making it useful in all caliber
ammunitions. Block diagram of a typical Multi-
Option Fuze is as follows.

CONTENTS 204
4.4.4 Universal fuze

Figure5.5: Block diagram of Multi-Option Fuze


CONTENTS 205
4.4.4 Universal fuze
4.4.4.1 Working Principle: Multi-Option Fuze
(MOF) is a combination of all three fuze action, i.e.
proximity, time and point detonation. The basic
construction has all the components used in PRX,
ET and EPD fuzes along with other components
such as ‘Selector Switch’, ‘Height-of-Burst Setter’
and ‘Time Setter’.

CONTENTS 206
4.4.4 Universal fuze
• The selector switch can be an electronic switch
implemented with the help of a de-multiplexer or a
manual one to many electrical switch. The selector
switch is used to select the operation mode of the
fuze. There are three possible operation modes in
this fuze viz.
ii) Proximity with EPD back up,
iii) Electronic Time with EPD back up,
iv) And Only EPD.

CONTENTS 207
4.4.4 Universal fuze
• Selecting one of these operation modes, the path of
power supply to the corresponding circuit module is
activated by selector switch via safety switch
(except in case of EPD, where no power is
required). The function of safety switch is same as
explained in PRX and ET fuze. Depending on the
mode selected, the corresponding circuit module
(proximity sensor or programmable time delay unit)
gets power and starts functioning.

CONTENTS 208
4.4.4 Universal fuze
• The principle of working of PRX sensor and
Electronic Timer is same as explained in PRX fuze
and ET fuze respectively, the only difference being
is that, in case of MOF fuze electronic timer is
programmable and hence operation time can be set
by the user. The ‘operation time’ is set with the help
of ‘Time Setter’ unit. Time Setter unit can be a part
of fuze or it can be a separate entity.

CONTENTS 209
4.4.4 Universal fuze
• Similarly ‘Height-of Burst Setter can be a part of
fuze or it can a separate entity. Making it a separate
entity has the advantage that only one setter can be
used for many fuzes and hence saving the cost. The
working principle of rest of the components of MOF
fuze is same as explained in PRX and ET fuze.

CONTENTS 210
4.5 LIMITATIONS OF ELECTRONIC FUZE

• The electronic circuits though adds many valuable


features to the fuze, but these additional feature
comes at the cost of complex design and
susceptibility of electronic fuze to some
environmental and working conditions. Few
limitations of electronic fuze are described below

CONTENTS 211
4.5 LIMITATIONS OF ELECTRONIC FUZE

• susceptibility to electromagnetic interference (EMI): this


problem becomes more severe in case of proximity fuzes
as it can lead to wrong target sensing and hence making
the fuze to function before it actually reaches in the
vicinity of target
• (Ii) possibility of jamming: the proximity fuzes are
susceptible to jamming. If enemy knows the technical
specifications (e.G. Operating frequency etc.), He can
easily misguide the fuze. Using appropriate modulation
and coding schemes can solve this problem.

CONTENTS 212
4.5 LIMITATIONS OF ELECTRONIC FUZE

(iii) additional reliability constraints due to integration


of electronic circuits in to the fuze.
(iv) fuze design becomes more complex due to
integration of electronic circuitry and its interfacing
with mechanical sub-systems.

CONTENTS 213
4.6 Closure
• The electronic fuzes were developed in mid 1960’s and
there after there have been continuous development in this
technology. Today, electronic fuzes are being used in many
modern weapon systems and have replaced mechanical
fuzes from many of their applications. Basic elements of
electronic fuzes, types of electronic fuzes and their working
principle, advantage and limitations were discussed in this
chapter. Whatever is the type of fuze, testing of fuze is very
important to ensure its satisfactory performance. Testing of
fuzes in discussed in the next chapter.

CONTENTS 214
CHAPTER 5
TESTING OF FUZES
5.1 Introduction
• As discussed in the previous chapters, fuze is the
brain of the ammunition and controls its safety and
firing. Malfunctioning of fuze can lead to major
accidents resulting not only in the loss of man and
money, but also of the morale of the armed forces.
This necessitates stringent controls and tests
during the development of the fuze, its acceptance
for mass production, during manufacturing and
after manufacturing.
CONTENTS 215
5.1 Introduction
• The basic question is “Does the fuze satisfies all
its requirement?” The tests are standardized and
are mandatory to perform before the fuze is
cleared for use. Most of the tests are listed in the
military standards (MIL-STB-331B) laid down by
Department of Defence, U.S.A. and are discussed
in detail in Appendix B.
• Fuze tests can be classified as Component tests,
Safety tests, Surveillance tests, Proof tests etc.
These are discussed in detail below.
CONTENTS 216
5.2 Development and Acceptance
Tests
• Development tests are performed to
evaluate the fuze design concepts i.e. to
access whether the principles involved in
the fuze can lead to an improved design or
the concept needs to be modified or
discarded. Acceptance tests are performed
to evaluate the final design and are also
called approval tests or evaluation tests.
CONTENTS 217
5.2 Development and Acceptance
Tests
• Development tests are designer specified tests,
carried out for individual components, sub-
assemblies and entire fuze. These tests are more
severe and more precise because this gives the
designer as idea about the extent to which the
design can be improved
• Acceptance tests are specified by some inspection
agency or user. They are carried out only for final
fuze assemblies. These tests are usually less severe
and less demanding than the development tests
CONTENTS 218
5.3 Component Tests:
• These tests are carried out to access the
safety, reliability and performance
characteristics of individual elements.
These tests are divided into three main
groups as discussed below

CONTENTS 219
5.3 Component Tests:
5.3.1 Tests for Explosive Elements
• Explosive elements are tested singularly or in
combination with other elements of the train.
Important characteristics recorded are input,
output and train continuity. Input is measured by
actually detonating primers and detonators by
mechanical forces or electrical stimulus and
recording the input energy required for the
purpose.
CONTENTS 220
5.3 Component Tests:
• To measure the output of the detonator, it is
detonated against sand, lead or steel and the
deformation caused in the sand, lead or steel gives
the magnitude of output energy of the detonator.
Continuity of the explosive train is checked by
assembling the whole train and measuring the
output of the train for given input. Static
Detonator Safety Test is also carried out to check
whether the rest of the train will be set off when
the detonator is initiated in initial unarmed state.
CONTENTS 221
5.3 Component Tests:
5.3.2 Tests for Mechanical Devices:
• These tests are used to test the rigidity,
strength and performance of mechanical
components of fuzes when they are
subjected to extreme centrifugal forces and
setback forces after launch. These forces are
simulated for test conditions by centrifuges,
spin machines, air guns and other devices.
CONTENTS 222
5.3 Component Tests:
• . Centrifuge is used to simulate the
centrifugal force experienced by the fuze.
Spin machines are used to simulate the
spinning of fuze in flight. Setback force
may be simulated by drop tests or air gun.
Shock tests are performed to test
mechanical components when subjected to
high accelerations and retardations
CONTENTS 223
5.3 Component Tests:
5.3.3 Tests for Power Sources:
• These tests are performed only occasionally to
access the performance of power source in the
fuze. If the power source is spring or a rotor, it is
tested like other mechanical devices. If the power
source is electrical, it is tested as breadboard
models in conventional ways. It is to establish that
the power source can set off the primer or
detonator in the particular fuze.
CONTENTS 224
5.4 Proof Tests:
5.4 Proof Tests:
• The basic concept of the proof testing is to
ensure that the fuze is tested at all
conditions similar to those under which it is
expected to perform. This is the only mean
of evaluating final assembly operations and
possible effects of combined forces that
were not apparent for individual elements
CONTENTS 225
5.4 Proof Tests:
• CQA has laid down instructions for proof testing
of fuzes. The test usually is carried in two stages.
First, a static test is carried out in which fuze is
fired by mechanical means (dropping of weights)
without actually firing the ammunition and the
results are noted to see the performance of
explosive train and safety devices in the fuzes.
The second stage is the firing of actual
ammunition through the gun with fuze attached to
it. The ammunition used may be an empty shell or
a filled one.

CONTENTS 226
5.5 Safety Tests:
5.5 Safety Tests:
• These tests are designed to investigate the
safety requirements of the fuze during
handling, transportation etc. These tests are
classified as destructive and non-destructive
tests.

CONTENTS 227
5.5 Safety Tests:
5.5.1 Destructive Testing:
• In these tests, the operability of the fuze is not
required and is used to validate the design or a lot
of fuze. These tests check the ruggedness of a fuze
and sensitivity of the explosive elements when
subjected to severe impacts. These tests include 12
m drop test, jolt test, jumble test etc and are
discussed in detail in Appendix B.

CONTENTS 228
5.5 Safety Tests:
5.5.2 Non-Destructive Testing:
• In these tests, operability is required. These
tests check the sensitivity of explosive
elements when subjected to minor impacts
and loads. These tests include parachute
drop test, transportation and vibration tests
etc.

CONTENTS 229
5.6 Surveillance Tests:
5.6 Surveillance Tests:
• These are the routine checks carried out for
ammunition, fuzes and explosives in
movement, storage and use to investigate
the degree of serviceability and rate of
deterioration. These checks are usually
conducted at an interval of 6 months or a
year.
CONTENTS 230
5.6 Surveillance Tests:
• The deterioration of fuze during storage may be
due to corrosive atmosphere, extreme
temperatures, moisture, corrosion of metallic
components, chemical decay of explosive
components with time or any other similar reason.
Many of these problems can be avoided by using
hermetically sealed cans for storage of fuzes or by
using moisture-proof protective coatings.

CONTENTS 231
5.6 Surveillance Tests:
5.6.1 Accelerated Environment Tests:
• During the development stage of the fuze, it
is not possible for designer to foresee the
effects of storage and environmental
variables on fuze with time as long-term
tests cannot be tolerated during the
development stage.

CONTENTS 232
5.6 Surveillance Tests:
• To solve this problem, the fuzes are tested
in severe environments for short periods to
simulate the effect of milder environments
over extended periods. Such test are thus
accelerated and termed as Accelerated
Environment Tests. Some of these tests are
fog test, extreme temperature storage test,
vacuum-steam-pressure test, waterproofness
test, rain exposure test etc.
CONTENTS 233
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• The electronic circuits integrated in the electronic
fuze are required to be tested for their
functionality and reliability. The testing includes
testing of component, functional testing of fuze
system and calculation of performance parameters.
The parameters obtained are compared with the
desired parameters. During development stage, the
designers subject the fuze components and
complete fuze to certain specific tests to meet the
operational requirements.
CONTENTS 234
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• When the fuze is productionised, test
procedures commensurate with the test
carried out during the design stage. The
complete fuze system can be tested for all
the performance parameters only when
designer has designed the system with its
testability in mind. The concept of design
for testability is discussed hereunder
CONTENTS 235
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
5.7.1 Design for testability Concept: The concept
of testing starts at the design stage of a product
and electronic fuze is not an exception. The
ultimate aim of any design is to convert it into a
functional product. The complete design is
functionally divided into various blocks and each
block is assigned a specific function. The
functional division of full design not only helps
the designer to complete his design easily, it also
helps him to test his design after completion.
CONTENTS 236
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• Various test points are provided in between
at the output of each block to verify the
output of each block. The debugging of
design becomes easier as designer now can
pin point the defected block and rectify the
problem. Same idea applies in case of
testing of the design when it is physically
implemented on the PCB. The test points
helps in testing of individual block.
CONTENTS 237
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• For example, consider the system
represented in the Figure 5.1. The system
has certain function to perform and it is
functionally divided into four modules,
Module 1 to Module 4. System has a single
primary input and single primary output.
Each module performs a specific function
and passes on the output to the next module.
Designer knows the output of each module.
CONTENTS 238
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• The T1 to T3 are the test points provided by the
designer to make system testing and debugging
easy. By providing T1-T3 each module of the
system can be tested and if any problem occurs the
corresponding module can be corrected. To test
the intermediate modules, Module 2 and 3, the
primary input is set such that it gives the desired
output at module 1 to set the input of intermediate
modules
CONTENTS 239
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes

Figure5.1: A hypothetical system

CONTENTS 240
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• Similarly, in case of electronic fuze, the test
points are provided to test Proximity sensor,
Time delay unit, safety circuit etc.
However, depending on the type of fuze i.e.
whether it is Proximity (PRX) or Electronic
Time (ET) or Electronic Point Detonation
(EPD) or Multi-Option Fuze (MOF), the
functional verification test setup will differ.
CONTENTS 241
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• The failure of any of the electronic
component can lead to the functional failure
of the fuze in its operation and hence it is
extremely important to test the electronic
components before use and after mounting
them on PCB & verifying the functionality
of circuit in various conditions.

CONTENTS 242
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• First of all the screening of electronic components is done,
then PCB level testing of circuits is performed, and then
finally complete fuze assembly is tested. The design
parameters of the fuze dictate the type of test to be
specified at various stages of development and
manufacture. These tests form an integral part of fuze
development and production programme.
• Screening of components before use and testing of various
basic circuits, which constitute the electronic assembly of
fuze, is discussed in following.

CONTENTS 243
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
5.7.2 Screening of electronic components: The
electronic components should be subject to
screening before taking the lot for use. The basic
screening procedures adapted are
a) ‘g’ Test.
b) High temperature storage,
c) Temperature Cycling, and
d) Power burn in (24 Hrs).

CONTENTS 244
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• A fix % (1 or 2 %) of components are
subjected to a force of some specified
amount (e.g. 20,000 g, actual force required
to be applied for testing depends on the
conditions in which the fuze is going to
work such as acceleration force, air flow,
spin force etc.) for one minute. If 1% of the
tested components changes beyond the
limits value the whole lot to be rejected.
CONTENTS 245
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• The passive components (Resistors, Capacitors and
Inductors) are subject to high temperature storage of 100°
C for 48 Hrs and temperature cycling of extreme
temperature for 5 cycles. One cycle is 30 minutes long
with 5 to 15 minutes recovery time. Capacitors are
subjected to power burn in for 100 Hrs at +85°C at rated
voltages. The active components (Transistors) are subject
to power burn in for 24 Hrs at room temperature and
temperature cycling of -55°C to +125°C for 5 cycles.
• Based on the screening results the lots are
selected/rejected. The selected components are then
utilized for making PCBs to implement the required
circuits.

CONTENTS 246
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
5.7.3 PCB level testing of electronic fuze: After
making the PCBs, the respective electronic circuits
should be tested for their functionality and
performance. The PCBs are first checked for the
manufacturing defects and then they are subjected
to performance evaluation tests. The
manufacturing defects are inspected by visual
inspection. The following points are ensured by
visual inspection of PCBs
CONTENTS 247
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
i) The components of proper value are
cleaned, tinned, sleeved and mounted at
the correct position.
ii) There are no dry solders
iii) Assembly is clean and free from flux and
dirt.
iv) The joints are proper and there are no
short circuit or open circuit defects
CONTENTS 248
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• After visual inspection, the performance of respective
circuits is evaluated by specified testing methods. The
testing requirement and performance parameters of some
of the fundamental circuits of electronic fuze are discussed
below.
i) Oscillator Circuit: The frequency output of the oscillator
is verified with the help of frequency counter. The
oscillator circuit is checked for amplitude of output voltage
at its load and the frequency of oscillations. Digital multi-
meter or oscilloscope may be used to measure the
amplitude of output voltage.

CONTENTS 249
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• The amplitude of output voltage should be with in the
specified limits and out put frequency should be in
specified range. The signal strength of transmitted signal is
measured with help of signal strength meter by tuning the
signal strength meter to the corresponding reading of
frequency counter. The signal strength (measured in DB)
should be above minimum specified value at specified
distance or height. The same data converted to mV gives
the sensitivity of oscillator circuit, which is the sensitivity
while receiving the return signal from target.

CONTENTS 250
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• Audio Amplifier circuit: The assembled audio
amplifier circuit is subject to the following tests.
a) Delay time test: This test is carried out to check
the delay time between the switching ON and
the appearance of voltage at the trigger output of
the circuit. The delay time is measured with the
help of counter

CONTENTS 251
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• (b) Amplifier threshold: The threshold
input voltage of an amplifier is defined as
the minimum voltage which is required to
generate an output pulse (trigger pulse) of
required amplitude. An audio signal is
applied at input and increased slowly until a
signal of desired strength appears at output.

CONTENTS 252
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• The minimum corresponding input voltage
is noted down, and is referred to as
amplifier threshold voltage. It should be
between specified limits. A low frequency
signal generator (sine wave), regulated DC
power supply, digital multi-meter and
oscilloscope (CRO) are required to perform
this test
CONTENTS 253
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
(c) Amplifier bandwidth: Bandwidth of an amplifier is
defied as the range of frequencies for which amplifier gain
falls 3 DB of mid-frequency gain value i.e. range of
frequencies which can be processed (amplified) by the
amplifier satisfactorily without any distortion. The
amplifier is given an input signal from oscillator, which is
varied from minimum frequency to maximum frequency,
and correspondingly the output at amplifier is measured.
The corresponding minimum (Low) frequency and
maximum (High) frequency for which amplifier gain falls
below 3 DB are noted down. This range of frequencies
from low frequency to high frequency gives amplifiers
bandwidth.

CONTENTS 254
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
(d) Dynamic range: Dynamic range indicates that
for a specified signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) there is
no distortion in the output signal for any increase
in input signal up to the dynamic range of
amplifier. The noise in no signal condition is
measured at output, and then an input signal,
which increases output by, required SNR is
applied and noted down. Now increase the input
signal slowly. The dynamic range is the range of
input signal for which there is no distortion in
output signal.

CONTENTS 255
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
(e) Output Pulse (trigger pulse): The amplitude of
the output voltage pulse should be greater than or
equal to the specified value. It is measured with
the help of an oscilloscope.
(f) Amplifier noise: The thermal noise level at
output of amplifier for a specified value of load
resistor should be below specified limit. This is
measured with the help of oscilloscope or mili-
voltmeter/micro-voltmeter
CONTENTS 256
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
(iii) Electronic Timer / Delay circuit: The
timer circuit testing depends on the design
parameters of the circuit. Common tests
performed on timer circuits are, test of
frequency of clock generating oscillator,
time data retention test, preset time test, and
time set reset test. To set the fuze in various
testing modes, a ‘Fuze Programmer Unit’ is
provided by the designer.
CONTENTS 257
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• The clock-generating oscillator is usually ‘power
on oscillator’, which starts generating clock wave
as soon as it gets power input. The frequency of
oscillations can be checked with the help of
oscilloscope. The frequency of oscillations should
not very with fluctuation in supply voltage, for a
specified range of supply voltage. The time data
retention test is done to check whether the time
data set in ET fuze remains in its memory for the
specified time.
CONTENTS 258
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• The preset time test is done to verify that timer
provides the delay precisely equal to the set time ±
Accuracy. The timer is set for some time delay
value and output terminals are checked, the trigger
pulse should appear at the output terminals
precisely after set time ± Accuracy. The time set
reset test is done to verify that timer is re-settable
i.e. if by mistake if any wrong value has been fed
it can be corrected and fresh data can be fed to set
the operation time.
CONTENTS 259
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• Some ET fuze also have switches (such as
floating switch) which enable the clock
input of timer, in such fuzes the switches
are left open and timers are set for some
value and output is checked, there should be
no output if switch is open, this test is called
‘safety test’ of timer

CONTENTS 260
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• (iv) Electronic firing circuit: The firing circuit is
tested for the amplitude and duration of the firing
pulse. Oscilloscope can be used to check the
amplitude of the firing pulse.
• (v) Power supply: The battery is tested for no
load output voltage and full load output voltage.
The voltage droop of output voltage should be
within specified range.

CONTENTS 261
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
• Multi-meter along with resistance of
suitable value can be used to perform this
test. This is very important that the output
voltage of battery remains constant at its
specified value. If the output voltage falls
with time and voltage droop is high, the
performance of the other circuits is
adversely affected and fuze may not
function accurately.
CONTENTS 262
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
5.7.4 Equipments for Screening:
• Following equipments/facilities are required to
perform screening of electronic devices.
iii) ‘g’ test: spinning machine of 40000 g,
iv) Power burn chamber,
v) High temperature storage chamber,
vi) Low temperature storage chamber,
vii) Spin test: spinning M/C for sub assembly &
assembled fuze with low rpm.
viii) Curve Tracers
CONTENTS 263
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
5.7.5 Equipments required for PCB level testing:
Following test equipments are required to perform the PCB
level testing of electronic fuzes.
i) Oscilloscope / digital RF oscilloscope,
ii) Regulated DC power supply,
iii) Multi-meter,
iv) Universal time and frequency counter,
v) Fuze setter / Time setter,
vi) True RMS meter,
vii) Sine and square wave generator,
viii) Signal strength meter,
CONTENTS 264
5.7 Testing of Electronic fuzes
ix) LCR meter,
x) Low distortion signal generator,
xi) Filter circuits,
xii) Fuze programmer unit (specific for a
fuze).
xiii) Spectrum Analyzer
xiv) GP receiver.
CONTENTS 265
5.8 Closure
• The performance of ammunition is directly
related to the performance of fuze. This
necessitates extensive testing and proofs of
the fuze before it can be used with the
ammunitions. Testing of the fuze has been
designed to assess the performance of fuze
in extreme conditions by simplified tests
and procedures.
CONTENTS 266
CHAPTER 6
NEW TRENDS IN FUZE TECHNOLOGY
6.1 Introduction
• The innovations in fuzing technology go parallel with the
advancement in electronics industry. The discovery of
transistor was a break-through in electronics and since
than, there have been continuous development in this field.
The first fully transistorized fuze M429 was made in the
1965-1970 time period for a 2.75″ rocket to use in Vietnam
War. There after electronic fuzes were made using
integrated circuit technology and proximity fuze and
electronic time fuze were developed.

CONTENTS 267
6.1 Introduction
• The miniaturization in electronics continued and
hence increasingly complex systems were made in
even smaller chip area. The electronic technology
evolved from Small Scale Integration (SSI) stage,
where in only few components could be integrated
in a chip to Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI),
where millions of components can be integrated in
a single chip. The use of Integrated Circuit (IC)
technology gives fuze designer more space to
integrate more circuits and include additional
features.

CONTENTS 268
6.1 Introduction
• The modern programmable Proximity (PRX) and
Programmable Electronic Time (ET) fuzes are
examples of this. Now a days we have Multi-
Option Fuze (MOF), which represents the latest
development in electronic fuze technology. In the
following sections, we will discuss the latest
developments in fuzing technology, latest products
and future development programme.

CONTENTS 269
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
• The latest electronic fuzes from leading
manufacturers are discussed in the following
i) Junghans Feinwerktechnik, Germany has
developed a new series of Digital fuzes. The Multi
Option Fuzes for Artillery (MOFA) DM74 and
DM84 as well as the Electronic Time Fuzes
DM52A1 and DM52A2 represent the latest
generation in fuze know-how.

CONTENTS 270
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
• These fuzes have been designed to utilize the
principle of digitization, inductive programming
by direct communication with automatic fire
control loading systems of all modern howitzers.
The optronic Mortar Proximity Fuze PX581 is
independent of caliber and can be mounted on 60
mm, 81 mm and 120 mm shells without
adjustments. Its optronic capabilities will allow no
interference by electronic counter measures like
for instance "Shortstop".
CONTENTS 271
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
• Due to its special technology, the fuze functions
highly precise at low ground distances and thus
provides an optimal ammunition result. The
DM581 is latest optronic proximity fuze and is
superior to conventional proximity fuzes, used in
today's armed forces. It utilizes advanced laser-
based distance measurement technology for target
recognition. The optical fuze transmitter sends out
light pulses at the rate of 500 pulses per second
while the receiver constantly measures the
distance from the target.

CONTENTS 272
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
• The intelligent decision-making logic
recognizes the target and detonates the
shell at the programmed altitude and at
the desired moment. The fuze recognizes
the ground surface but does not react to
clouds, mist, snow or rain. Due to its very
sophisticated optro-electronic measuring
principle, it is not possible to interfere
with any known counter methods.
CONTENTS 273
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
ii) FUCHs Electronics, South Africa has
developed a new Multi-Option Artillery
Fuze M9801. The M9801 multi-option fuze,
has four functioning modes including –
Point Detonating Super Quick (PDSQ),
Point Detonating Delay (10 – 100 ms,
settable), Proximity (4m/ 8m/ 12-50m
height of burst, settable) and time (3 – 199.9
seconds, settable).
CONTENTS 274
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
• To defeat jammers, the timer is also used
to inhibit the proximity function until the
projectile is overhead its target. Another
new fuze variant compatible with the
M15A2 (Inductive Fuze setter) is M9804
ET fuze, which stores time data in an
integral non-volatile memory, the last
entry being retained indefinitely until the
fuze is reprogrammed.
CONTENTS 275
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
• FUCHs Electronics RO68 proximity fuze
operates in UHF frequency range and
employs a specialized Doppler technique to
accurately sense the detonation distance
above the ground. The fuze employs
frequency agility to provide the fuze with
an effective immunity to combat enemy
countermeasures
CONTENTS 276
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
(iii) RESHEF Technologies, Israel KAPPA
M175 is described as the next generation
fuze. KAPPA M175 is a radio-operated
proximity fuze, based on a frequency
modulated continuous wave radar sensor,
which detonates the carrier rocket warhead
at an optimum height.

CONTENTS 277
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
(iv) Netherland’s Signal Usfa and TNO Physics &
Electronics Laboratory have developed a new
generation proximity fuze for the Netherlands
armed forces. It is known as– Multi-role Extended
range Digital Electronic Artillery (MEDEA) Fuze.
Its functionality includes – impact, delayed
impact, proximity to land, sea and air targets and
programmed time detonation. The fuze will be
useful in ordnance ranging between 76-155mm
caliber
CONTENTS 278
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
(v) Alliant Tech System’s XM773 Multi-
Option Fuze (MOFA) incorporates many
distinguished features. The fuze combines
the proximity, time, super quick and delay
modes of functioning and it is both hand
and inductively settable. The fuze
characteristics include a liquid crystal
display providing a clear visual indication
of the setting.
CONTENTS 279
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
• Alliant Tech Systems is presently instrumental in
development of next generation Electronic Time
Fuze for Mortar (ETFM). The plan is to develop
mortar electronic time fuzes XM784 and XM785
to replace the mechanical time fuzes (M776&
M772) currently employed by the US Army on the
60 mm, 81mm and 120 mm white light & IR
illumination rounds, and the 81 mm smoke round.

CONTENTS 280
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
CONTENTS

Figure 6.1: ETFM XM 784 and XM 785

CONTENTS 281
(vi) BT Fuze Product’s M234/M235/M236
are new Self Destruct (SD) fuzes. SD fuzes
reduce the number of hazardous DPICM
Grenade dud submunitions on the
Battlefield

CONTENTS 282
6.2 Latest electronic fuzes from
leading manufacturers
Their advantages include
enabled maneuverability,
reduced clean- up efforts,
addressed humanitarian issues
etc. The following figure
describes the SD fuze
operation, 1 indicates the fuze
before operation and 2 indicates
after operation
Figure 6.2: SD Fuze operation.

CONTENTS 283
6.3 Innovations in Proximity
Fuzing
• The proximity sensor is the main module of
proximity fuze. In the following paragraphs, the
latest developments in proximity sensing methods
are discussed
• FM / CW Ranging Systems: The FM / CW
Ranging Systems offers discriminate frequency
information instead of amplitude information and
hence are more immune to enemy counter effects
such as jamming etc. The use of FM / CW
Ranging Systems in proximity fuzes also provides
increased accuracy of Height- of- Burst (HOB).
CONTENTS 284
6.3 Innovations in Proximity
Fuzing
• Dual Channel Directional Doppler
Ranging (DDR) Signal Processor: This
system helps the fuze to discriminate
between approaching and receding Doppler
and provides noise immunity From Internal
or External Sources. The DDR signal
processors are highly integrated and single
chip signal processor solution
CONTENTS 285
6.3 Innovations in Proximity
Fuzing
• Electrostatic Proximity sensor (EPS) concept:
EPS utilizes the accumulated charge (which is
accumulated by the target by frictional charging
currents and combustion charging currents) of the
target to detect it and give the firing command to
the fuze. EPS detects E- field surrounding target
charge. This type of sensors will be very
• useful in proximity fuze used in ground to air and
air-to-air ammunitions.
CONTENTS 286
6.3 Innovations in Proximity
Fuzing
• The Guidance Integrated Fuze (GIF) /
Course Correcting Fuze (CCF) are
considered as smart fuzes which enhance
the effectiveness of the artillery systems.
GIF provide “first round – steel on target”
kind of effectiveness. GIF corrects the
ballistic trajectory in 2D, resulting in a
small terminal miss distance
CONTENTS 287
6.4 Innovations in fuze manufacture
technology and safety mechanisms:
• In electronic fuze industry, emphasis is being
given to modular approach of fuze design. The
module is defined as a functional unit of a system.
In modular approach, the modules are designed
such that one module fits into many fuze housings
and is compatible with other fuzes. This approach
offers the advantage of having flexibility in fuze
manufacturing, testing based on GO/NO-GO, high
component density, and also reduces the cost of
production. The Alliant Techsystems XM784 and
XM785 are the example of this technology.

CONTENTS 288
Figure 6.3: Example of modular approach to fuze design
CONTENTS 289
6.4 Innovations in fuze manufacture
technology and safety mechanisms:
• The use of cost effective COTS technology
offers advantages which includes, use of 2-
Layered Stiffened Flex Printed Wiring
Board (PWB). In 2-Layered Stiffened Flex
PWB on topside components are mounted
and on backside stiffener is applied. This
minimizes the interconnects and make the
PWB easy to package.
CONTENTS 290
6.4 Innovations in fuze manufacture
technology and safety mechanisms:
• Using Surface Mount Devices (SMDs)
helps in automating the production line and
minimizing the PWB size. Standard pick-
and-place/re-flow solder machines can be
used for this purpose. An example of this
technique is described in figure 6.4.

CONTENTS 291
Figure 6.4: COTS and SMD technology
CONTENTS 292
6.4 Innovations in fuze manufacture
technology and safety mechanisms:
• The use of Dual Microprocessor technology is
also becoming the need for today in fuze safety.
Two microprocessors are used, one for
commanding fuze operation and other dedicated to
safety only. The hand settable fuze and LCD
display on fuze makes the fuzes more user
friendly. The Alliant Techsystems latest ETFM
includes this feature. The block diagram circuit of
the ETFM fuze is described in figure 6.5.
CONTENTS 293
Figure 6.5: Dual micro controller for safety
CONTENTS 294
6.5 Future of Fuze technology
Futuristic Fuze technologies aims at making which
are
• Smaller,
• Smarter, and
• Common modular components
• The futuristic trends in fuze development will be
concentrated on miniaturization and use of high
density ICs and digital logic circuits into
electronic fuzes.
CONTENTS 295
6.5 Future of Fuze technology
• The electronic industry has moved into the era of
VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), which
contains millions of electronic components on a
single chip. The concept of System On Chip
(SOC) has also induced in fuze technology from
VLSI technology. The integration of digital logic
circuit adds intelligence to the fuze and makes it
smarter for use in modern smart weapon systems.
• The evolving fuze technology requirements can be
summarized as follows
CONTENTS 296
6.5 Future of Fuze technology
• Scaleable effects with multi-mode and multi-
purpose functionality.
• Fuze on a chip.
• Precision explosive trains and detonators.
• MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System), lower
cost & better reliability.
• Power sources, primary and reserve.
• Guidance integrated fuze (GIF) / Course
Correcting Fuze (CCF).
CONTENTS 297
6.5 Future of Fuze technology
The solution to above requirements lies in the following.
• Use of Ultra-miniature components.
• Cost Reduction via Multi-component modules, FPGA,
DSP and MEMS.
• Batteries - power delivery & shelf life.
• Novel techniques for S&A, timing precision.
• Performance against unusual targets, stealth & multilevel
bunker.
• Precision range sensing for delivery of non-lethal
munitions

CONTENTS 298
6.6 Closure
• In summary, it can said that enhanced
capabilities are required to meet modern
and future threats and increased levels of
integration will be required in future
munitions and weapons. Fuzing
applications are expanding beyond
traditional techniques

CONTENTS 299
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1 “Engineering Design Handbook: Ammunition Series, Fuzes”, U.S.
Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service.
2 “Ammunition Maintenance Instructions for Army ordnance services
FZ-Series”, Fuzes and Gaines, AMI FZ/23, First Issue, Proximity
Fuzes (V.T.), Chief Supdr of Dev., T.D.E. (ammn.), Kirkee.
3 “Ammunition Maintenance Instructions”, AI / Series-Advance
Information, A1/84/5 Fuzes for 155mm Ammunition, CQA
(Ammn.), Khadki, Pune-3.
4 “Proximity Fuze – testing and evaluation”, B. S. Kulkarni,
Proceedings of National Seminar on Timers and Fuzes, 4-5
February, 1983, PXE, Chandipur.
5 “Time – Proximity Fuze”, Major G.S. Saund, Proceedings of
National Seminar on timers and fuzes, 4-5 February, 1983, PXE,
Chandipur.

BACK 300
BIBLIOGRAPHY
6 “Proximity Fuzes”, Harner Selvidge, Electronics,
February 1946.
7 “The evolution of the US Army Artillery Fuzes to the
Electronic Age”, J. F. Springer, Military Technology,
Vol. 30, No. 12, Dec. 1989, pp 77-88.
8 “South African Fuze Systems Detailed”, Janes Defence
Weekly, Vol 21, No. 5, 1994, pp 19.
9 “Modular Approach to a Proximity Fuze”, G.C. Dubey,
Technical report No. SPL-29/73, Solid State Physics lab,
DRDO, New Delhi.
10 “Radio Proximity Fuzes”, John W. Lyons, E. A. Brown
and B. Fonoroff (ret.), Army Research Laboratory,
U.S.A.
BACK 301
BIBLIOGRAPHY
11 "Development of Proximity Fuzes (VT) for Projectiles -
VT Fuzes MKS 32 to 60, Inclusive (General
Description)." N.E. Dilley, Chapter 1 of The World War
II Proximity Fuze: A Compilation of Naval Ordnance
Reports by the Johns Hopkins University Applied
Physics Laboratory. (Silver Spring MD: The
Laboratory, 1950): 1-12. [Declassified 16 Jun. 1976].
12 MIL – STD 331 B, Military Standard for fuze and fuze
components environmental and performance tests,
AMSC, N/A, Department of Defence, USA.

BACK 302
Website Reffered:
• W.1 http://www.atk.com.
• W.2 http://www.arcus-bg.com.
• W.3 http://www.btfuze.tw.l-3com.com.
• W.4 http://www.fuchs.co.za.
• W.5 http://www.hblnife.com.
• W.6 http://www.junghans-fwt.de.
• W.7 http://Israel.motorola.com/ged.
BACK 303
Website Reffered:
• W.8 http://www.patria.fi.
• W.9 http://w4.pica.army.mil/PicatinnyPublic/index.asp.
• W.10 http://www.resheffuzes.com
• W.11 http://www.army-technology.com
• W.12 http://www.globalsecurity.org
• W.13 http://www.global-defence.com
• W.14 http://www.dtic.mil/ndia

BACK 304
Further Reading:
• F.1 “Antenna and wave propagation”, K. D. Prashad, Satya Prakashan,
New Delhi.
• F.2 “Antennas”, John D Kraus, Tata Mc Graw Hill Publications, New
Delhi.
• F.3 “Electronic Communication Systems”, George Kennedy, Glenceo/
McGraw Hill, Publications, NY, U.S.
• F.4 “Communication Systems”, Simon Haykins, Prentice Hall Inc.
Publications, Upper Saddle, NJ, USA.
• F.5 “Integrated Electronics”, J. Millman and C. C. Halkias, Tata Mc
Graw Hill Publications, New Delhi.
• F.6 “Microelectronic Circuits”, S. Sedra and K.C. Smith, Oxford
University Press Publications, U.K.
• F.7 “Digital Design Principles and Practices” John F. Wakerly,
Prentice-Hall, Inc. Publications, Upper Saddle, NJ, USA.

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APPENDIX – A
MIL-STD-331B
• Different Fuze designing and developing agencies
follow different standards for fuze testing. One of
the most widely accepted testing standards for
fuze testing is the compilation by Department of
Defence, U.S.A. and is referred to as MIL-STD-
331B, which was released on 1st December, 1989.
This standard described the tests to be carried out
to determine the safety, reliability and
performance characteristic of weapon system and
fuze component at any stage of their life.
BACK 306
APPENDIX – A
MIL-STD-331B
• This standard generally applies to all fuzes as well
as components of weapon system serving a fuze
function. The standard contains tests to be carried
out, equipment to be used and the range of data to
be satisfied by the fuze for passing the test.
• MIL-STD-331B standards classify the tests into
six categories. These categories and the tests
carried under them are discussed briefly below.
For detailed discussion, one can refer to the
standard referred above.
BACK 307
Group A – Mechanical Shock
Tests
• In these tests, fuzes are subjected to single or
repeated impacts, which generally simulate
possible mishandling during the logistical or
operation cycles.
a) Test A1 – Jolt:
• This is a laboratory test simulating ground
transport conditions. The fuze must withstand a
series of impacts applied in a controlled
direction and amplitude.
BACK 308
Group A – Mechanical Shock
Tests
b) Test A2 – Jumble:
• This is also a laboratory test simulating ground
transport conditions. The fuze must withstand
random impacts imparted by a free-fall inside a
rotating wood-lined box.
c) Test A3 – 12 meter (40 foot) Drop:
• This is a laboratory or field safety test
simulating mishandling during loading and
unloading of ammunition in ships. The fuze
must withstand a 12 meter (40 ft) free-fall drop
onto a steel plate.
BACK 309
Group A – Mechanical Shock
Tests
d) Test A4 – 1.5 meter (5 foot) Drop:
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test simulating
handling and tactical conditions. Separate fuzes or fuzes
attached with ammunition are dropped from 1.5 m (5 ft)
onto a steel plate.
e) Test A5 – Transportation Handling (Packaged
Fuzes):
• This is also a laboratory safety and reliability test
simulating handling conditions. Packed fuzes or fuzed
ammunition are preconditioned to specified temperature
and subjected to controlled drops, roll-overs and
impacts.

BACK 310
Group B – Vibration Tests
`Fuzes are subjected to vibrations of specified frequency, amplitude
and duration, simulating conditions anticipated during transport or
tactical use.
a) Test B1 – Transportation Vibration (Bare Fuzes):
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test simulating transportation
conditions. Bare
• fuzes or fuzed ammunition are preconditioned to specified
temperature and vibrated on a schedule of controlled frequencies and
amplitude.
b) Test B2 - Transportation Vibration (Packaged Fuzes):
• This test is similar to Test B1 except that packaged fuzes are used in
this test as against bare fuzes of the previous test.
c) Test B3 – Tactical Vibration:
• This test is also similar to Test B1 and is used to simulate tactical
conditions.
BACK 311
Group C – Climatic Test
• In these tests, fuzes are subjected to realistic extreme climatic
conditions for specified period to simulate storage and exposure of
similar conditions during the life of the fuze.
a) Test C1 – Temperature and Humidity:
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test simulating storage
conditions. The fuze must withstand exposure to repeated cycles of
extreme temperature and humidity.
b) Test C2 – Vacuum-Steam-Pressure:
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test simulating storage or
ready use conditions. The fuze must withstand exposure to a series
of 15-minute vacuum-steam-pressure cycle.

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Group C – Climatic Test
C Test C3 – Salt Fog:
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test
simulating bare fuze exposure to a moist and
salty atmosphere.
d) Test C4 – Waterproofness:
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test,
which subjects the fuze to submersion in water.
The fuze must remain leak-free when submerged
to a depth of 10.7 m (35 ft) of water.

BACK 313
Group C – Climatic Test
e) Test C5 - Fungus:
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test
simulating adverse storage condition. The fuze
must withstand the growth of fungus growth.
f) Test C6 – Extreme Temperature:
• This is also a laboratory safety and reliability
test simulating extreme storage conditions. The
fuze must withstand continuous exposure to
extreme low and high temperatures.

BACK 314
Group C – Climatic Test
g) Test C7 – Thermal Shock:
• This test is similar to Test C6. The fuze must
withstand sudden transition in extreme low and
high temperatures.
h) Test C8 - Leak Detection:
• This is a laboratory performance test to measure
the fuze leak rate. Fuzes must exhibit a rate of
leakage of a tracer gas or air below the specified
limit.

BACK 315
Group C – Climatic Test
i) Test C9 – Dust:
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test simulating
adverse storage, handling, transportation and tactical
conditions. The fuze must function properly after
exposure to a dusty environment.
j) Test C10 - Solar Radiation:
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test to
determine the effects of solar radiation on packaged or
unpackaged fuzes or fuzed ammunitions that may be
exposed to sunshine during operation or unsheltered
storage.

BACK 316
Group D – Safety, Arming and
Functioning Tests
These tests measure the performance characteristics of the fuze such as
explosive safety, arming distance or time, output etc.
a) Test D1 – Primary Explosive Components Safety:
• This is a laboratory safety test simulating inadvertent initiation of the
fuze primary explosive. Explosive component beyond the explosive
train interrupter must not be initiated nor should fuze produce a
hazardous release.
b) Test D2 – Projectile Fuze Arming Distance:
• This is a field performance test used to determine the no-arm, mean-
arm and all-arm distances for impact detonating projectile fuzes. An
optional field safety test is included which determines whether the
fuze is armed at the muzzle of the gun.

BACK 317
Group D – Safety, Arming and
Functioning Tests
c) Test D3 – Time to Air Burst:
• This is a field performance test used to determine functional
accuracy of mechanical and electronic projectile time fuzes.
d) Test D4 - Explosive Component Output:
• This is a laboratory performance test used to determine explosive
component output, performance uniformity and suitability for a
particular design application.
e) Test D5 – Rain Impact
• This is a safety and performance test used during fuze development
to demonstrate that the impact sensing element will not function as
a result of traversing a specified rain environment and will then
function reliably on impact with the test target.

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Group E – Aircraft Munition
Tests
Fuzes associated with airborne ammunitions are subjected to impacts
or forces which might be encountered in takeoff and landing or
accidental separation of the ammunition from the aircraft.
a) Test E1 – Jettison:
• This is a field safety test for fuzes with flight-selectable safe jettison
capacity. When the fuze is jettisoning safe, the fuze must not
contribute to high order detonation of the warhead on earth or water
impact.
b) Test E2 – Low altitude Accidental Release:
• This is a field safety test simulating accidental release of airborne
munitions on takeoff or landing. The fuze must not initiate high
order detonation when the munition impacts a hard surface.

BACK 319
Group E – Aircraft Munition
Tests
c) Test E3 – Arrested Lending Pull-off:
• This is a field safety test simulating accidental release of
an airborne weapon upon arrested landing aboard an
aircraft carrier.

d) Test E4 – Catapult and Arrested Landing Forces:


• This is a field safety and reliability test. The fuze must
withstand forces encountered on catapult takeoff and
arrested landing aboard an aircraft carrier.

BACK 320
Group E – Aircraft Munition
Tests
e) Simulated Parachute Air Delivery:
• This is a safety and reliability test
simulating air delivery of packaged fuzes
or fuzed ammunitions. The fuze must
withstand the forces encountered in low-
velocity, high –velocity and
malfunctioning air-delivery drops.

BACK 321
Group F – Electric and Magnetic
Influence Tests
These tests are especially used for electronic and
electrical fuzes to check their performance
variation due to influence of electrostatic
discharges, electromagnetic pulses, lightening etc.
a) Test F1 – Electrostatic Discharge:
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test
simulating possible handling and transportation
condition. The fuze must withstand high-potential
electrostatic discharge (lightening environment is
excluded).
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Group F – Electric and Magnetic
Influence Tests
b) Test F2 – Electromagnetic Pulse:
• This is a laboratory test, which determines fuze
ability to satisfy safety and reliability
requirements when exposed to a simulated High-
altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP)
environment. This HEMP potential could initiate
or alter Electro-Explosive Devices (EEDs) and
destroy or damage vulnerable electronic
components in the fuze
BACK 323
Group F – Electric and Magnetic
Influence Tests
c) Test F3 – EED Susceptibility to EMR:
• This is a laboratory safety and reliability test
simulating Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR),
which may impinge upon the fuze containing
Electro-Explosive Devices (EEDs) during their
life cycle. Fuze EEDs must withstand the high
levels of EMR, which may be encountered
during storage, transportation, handling, loading
and launching
BACK 324
Group F – Electric and Magnetic
Influence Tests
d) Test F4 – Electromagnetic Radiation,
Operational (EMRO):
• This test is similar to Test F3. It also test that
whether Fuze EEDs can withstand the high
levels of EMR, which may be encountered
during storage, transportation, handling, loading,
launching and travel to target.
e) Test F5 - Lightening

BACK 325
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

Proof testing of fuze is carried out to ensure its


performance and reliability when subjected
to conditions of actual firing. It is based on
sampling techniques wherein a sample is
randomly chosen and whole lot is accepted or
rejected depending upon the performance of
sample in the tests. A custom-made proof
schedule and sentencing criteria is decided
for each fuze which lays down the tests to be
carried out, sampling techniques, sample sizes
and acceptance criteria..

BACK 326
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

• Schedule and sentencing criteria for VT8A


proximity fuze is given in this appendix in order to
provide an idea about the criticalities and
procedure involved in proof testing of fuze. For
details, the reader may refer to the catalogues and
schedules prepared by CQA (Ammunition),
Department of Defence Production & Supplies,
Ministry of Defence, Government of India,
Khadki, Pune.
BACK 327
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

• B.1 Store: Fuze VT8A (Empty).


• B.2 Type of Proof: Empty Filled Proof.
• B.3 Lot Size:
d) Lot 1 to 4: 508 + proof samples.
e) Lot 5 onwards: 1008 + proof samples

BACK 328
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

• B.4 Sample size:


• Advance samples and upto lot 4: - 46 Nos
• Lot 5 onwards
d) 10th, 20th, 30th Lots: 41 Nos
e) 15th, 25th, 35th Lots: 38 Nos.
f) Other lots: 33 Nos.

BACK 329
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

• B.5 Proof Sample Identification: In


addition to the marking stamping, proof
samples will be marked with Sr. Nos. of
proof samples and letter ‘P’ i.e. 1P, 2P, 3P
and so on.
• B.6 Proof Establishment: Proof and
Experimental Establishment, Balasore.
• B.7 Conduct of Proof: Normal.

BACK 330
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE
• B.8 Proof Conditions and Component
Equipments requested for proof: Proof Sample
will be subjected to following conditions.
b) Safety Proof.
c) Arming Proof.
d) Absence of Premature and Short Burst.
e) Functioning proof.
f) Hot condition test: 50oC.
g) Cold condition test: -20oC.
h) Jolted Condition
BACK 331
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

• B.9 Method of Proof: The proof will be


conducted as per details given at Annexure 1. Lot-
wise conduct of proof is as given below.
a) Lot No. 1 to 4: These lots will be subjected to
proof as given in Annexure 1. In the case of Cold
and Jolt condition, the lots will be subjected to one
of the three conditions only. However, it shall be
ensured that conditioning as per these conditions
is done at least once.
BACK 332
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

b) Remaining Lots: For remaining lots, proof


given at Annexure 1will be carried out except
for safety and arming proof. Safety and arming
proof shall be carried out with following lots.
Further, in five consecutive lots for hot or cold
or jolted condition shall be carried out at least
once.
c) Safety Proof: This proof will be carried out for
every tenth lot commencing from Lot No. 15
viz. Lot No. 15, 25, 35 and so on.
BACK 333
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

d) Arming Proof: This proof will be carried out


for every tenth lot commencing from Lot No. 10
viz. Lot No. 10, 20, 30 and so on.
e) In an abnormality is noticed in safety and/or
arming proof even on one lot, subsequent five
lots will be subjected to that proof in which
abnormality was observed. If no defect is
observed in the proof of these five lots, the cycle
of proofing every tenth lot will be resumed
thereafter
BACK 334
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE
• B.10 General Conditions of Firing:
• B.10.1 Preparation of Proof Sample:
a) Fuzes will be assembled with Gaine 1A to Drg
No. 1QX 151 GA. Thereafter these fuzes less
adapter IQX 853 and Pellet IQX 171 AF will be
assembled to Shell 105 mm IFG HEA 1B to Drg
No. ISX 67 GF/ISX 77 GF for safety and absence
of premature and short burst conditions.
b) For remaining conditions given in Annexure 1, the
fuzes will be assembled with Shell 130 mm HE to
Drg No. ISX 101 GF.
BACK 335
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

c) For jolt test, fuze fitted with plugs representing


Gaine and Dummy CE Pallet will be packed in the
approved packages. The packages with fuzes will
be jolted in an approved jolting machine through
25mm (to apply 395 + 5 m/s2 acceleration) 15000
times at a rate not more than 2 bumps per second,
5000 bumps at each of these orientations of the
fuze i.e. nose-up, nose-down and on the horizontal
axis.
BACK 336
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

• B.10.2 Sensitivity Selection: The fuze is provided


with two sensitivities to function at two different
height brackets over the target.
a) Normal Sensitivity: The fuze is adjusted for
normal sensitivity by un-screwing and removal of
Contact Screw to Drg No. IQX 857 on the lower
body of the fuze.
b) High Sensitivity: The fuze is adjusted for high
sensitivity by retaining the Contact Screw to Drg
No. IQX 857 on the lower body of the fuze.
BACK 337
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

• B.10.3 Ordnance: Ordnance QF 105/37 IFG and


Field Gun 130 mm used in the proof, as given at
Annexure 1, should not be beyond the third
quarter of life.
• B.10.4 Target: Wet Sand or Calm Water (Calm
water is defined as having waves of an amplitude
of 30 cms or less).
• B.10.5 Weather: No Clouds beyond vertical
height of trajectory.
BACK 338
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE
• B.11 Observations required:
a) Functioning of each round using conventional
abbreviations given at B.11(f) below.
b) Height of Burst (except for safety, arming and
absence of premature and short burst conditions)
to be recorded by camera and theodolites.
c) Time to burst and range to burst.
e) Monitoring data.
f) Additional information if any relevant to the
functioning of the fuze
BACK 339
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE
a) Definitions and observations:

Abbrev Terms Definitions and Remarks


iations
M Monitored To be used as suffix letter to any of the
abbreviations to indicate that using flight the fuze
oscillations have been monitored.
NM Not To be used as suffix letter to any of the
monitored abbreviations to indicate that using flight the fuze
oscillations have not been monitored.
P Premature A Shell, which burst in the bore or within the
minimum safety distance of the gaine i.e. up to
40m from the muzzle.
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APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

Abbrev Terms Definitions and Remarks


iations
SB Short Burst A burst occurring after 40m from the muzzle and
before 7-second time of flight.
NB Normal For fuze set at “Normal Sensitivity”: A fuze
Burst bursting between 3m to 30m from the surface at
target end (calm water, wet sand)
For fuze set at “High Sensitivity”: A fuze
bursting between 15m to 75m from the surface at
target end (calm water, wet sand).
EB Early Burst A fuze, which operates by VT action between the
end of short burst and the upper limit of the
normal burst zone. BACK 341
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

Abbrev Terms Definitions and Remarks


iations
LAB Low Air A fuze, which operates by VT action with a
Burst lower limit to normal burst zone and above the
target surface.
GB Ground A shell, which burst or appear to burst on the
Burst target surface
B Blind Blind at target surface.
OU Not The operations of the fuze not observed by
Observed whatever method being used for observations of
burst or VT operation

BACK 342
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE
• B.12 Sighters:
a) Shell 105mm IFG HE A/1B fuzed 117MK – 20 as required
will be fired to establish the line of fire and exact location
of burst for conditions of Safety proof and Absence of
premature and short burst.
b) Shell 130mm filled inert with flash pellet to fuze VT 8A
(proof stock) as required (about 5 numbers) will be fired
for each OP position to get the MPI over the scale markers
in the line of fire as an aid to photographic recording of
Height of burst of each series, proof samples of particular
series will be fired subsequently and burst points recorded
with cameras

BACK 343
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

• B.13 Performance required:


a) There must not be any premature or short burst,
blind, low air burst and ground burst.
b) For functioning proof out of the fuzes recorded as
normal burst 50% should be as under:
• Normal sensitivity: 15 +7.5m
• High sensitivity: 40 + 7.5m
• If 50% figure is in decimals the next higher whole
number will be taken for sentencing.
BACK 344
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

• B.14 Classification of defects:


a)Critical defects: Premature or short burst.
b)Major defects: Blinds (monitored and non
monitored), early burst, low airburst and
ground burst.

BACK 345
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE
• B.15 Sentencing:
a) The proof conditions and sentencing will be in accordance
with the sampling plan given in Annexure 1. If a short
burst occurs during any firing for proof, further firing will
be suspended and lot will be rejected. The quality
assurance authority and manufacture will be informed
immediately.
b) Should the defects recorded during the proof indicate that
the cause is due to defects other than the empty fuze under
proof, the QA authority may call for any further test/firing
to establish this and if so established, the lot may be
considered for acceptance without any further proof, based
on the general performance of the fuzes during proof.
BACK 346
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

c) Should firing proof or examination of any lot


bring to the notice any defects which in the
opinion of the QA Authority affects the
serviceability of the fuze, the lot in question may
be rejected for further proof taken at his
discretion not only from the particular lot, but
also from adjoining lots made by the contractor,
to ascertain whether the defects is general.
Should the fuze fail at these and further proof
the lots may be rejected without reference to any
previous proof.

BACK 347
APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE FOR PROOF AND SENTENCING
CRITERIA FOR VT8A FUZE

d)If a premature occurs, firing will be


suspended and cause of premature will be
investigated. Further proof sentencing of the
lot under proof to be conducted, after
getting clearance from the QA Authority

BACK 348
ANNEXURE 1

• AQL : 15% REF: DEF 131A

S. Proof conditions Ordnance Charge Sensitivit QE Sampling Sample Sentence Remarks


No y plan size
A R A R
1

349

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