AREA DENIAL
SCATTERABLE MINES 101
Both air and ground platforms deliver the current U.S. scatterable mine systems. Air Force and Navy aircraft deliver the GATOR system from dispensers mounted on the aircraft. Each dispenser delivers antitank (AT) and antipersonnel (AP) mines. These mines have self-destruct times of 4 hours, 48 hours and 15 days. Mines self- destruct to eliminate residual hazards on the battlefield.
The Modular Pack Mine System (MOPMS) is a man-portable, 160-pound, suitcase-shaped mine dispenser that contains 17 AT mines and four AP mines dispensed on command through hardwire or radio. The dispenser may be emplaced long before dispensing mines. The mines self-destruct at 4 hours, but this can be recycled up to four times.
The Area Denial Artillery Munition (ADAM) and Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) systems are both launched from 155 mm howitzers inside modified projectile housings. One ADAM contains 36 AP mines. These mines have self-destruct times of 4 hours, 48 hours and 15 days. One RAAM projectile contains nine magnetically fuzed AT mines; each mine has the same self-destruct times as the ADAM.
to simulate the changing conditions during a 24-hour period. Constant changes in temperature and humidity could weaken or degrade seals, cause surfaces to deform or warp and cause joints to separate, which may break electrical circuits and pre- vent the flow of electricity when needed.
As samples are removed from the test chambers, they are checked to determine if they are still operable, whether they are working as they were originally designed and how much degradation has been encountered. Mathematical analysis provides an estimate of predicted lifespan. Te shelf life study is scheduled to be com- pleted by September 2016.
PAST ITS USE-BY DATE While battery shelf life is a concern, it is not the sole failure mode for advanced munitions. Plastics and electronic components are also subject to deterioration over time. Potting material may lose its integrity and no longer provide the physical support required for high G-forces during launch and ground impact. From the electronic side, solder can break down and cause the growth of
22 Army AL&T Magazine April-June 2016
The M139 Volcano Mine Dispensing System is a scatterable mine delivery system developed and fielded in the late 1980s and early 1990s that delivers 960 mines per mission by Black Hawk helicopter or ground vehicle. These mines are either AT only or a mix at a ratio of five AT to one AP mine. It also has self-destruct times of 4 hours, 48 hours and 15 days. It is one of the most vis- ible and important legacy systems receiving expanded support, as the resurgence in its use has driven a holistic surge in sustainment activity from the Soldier level to DA. Efforts to re-educate the field on the system, recapitalize it, renew repair-parts stockage and integrate the system on modernized prime movers are ongoing.
FASCAM systems employ munitions that contain self- destruct features. Thus they are nonpersistent mine systems and were allowed for use in combat situations as required. Since Jan. 1, 2011, U.S. forces have not been authorized to employ non-self-destructing, non- self-deactivating or nondetectable land mines. Beyond the danger to noncombatants that self-destruction removes, munitions that self-destruct enable friendly forces to move through previously seeded areas after the self-destruction window.
“tin whiskers” that can create unwanted paths for current to flow. Additionally, circuit boards can delaminate, breaking needed pathways for current flow.
With the Volcano system, ARDEC began its support by review- ing the various system and subsystem technical data packages to identify modern replacements for the obsolete legacy compo- nents. TACOM then developed a new repair-and-replacement process at its depot facility to refurbish the aging Volcano sys- tems. TACOM proved out this program on a limited quantity of Volcano systems in FY15, and is now planning to continue the sustainment work when funding is made available.
PM CCS and ARDEC initiated a long-term study of currently fielded FASCAM systems to look for evidence of deterioration as the result of the different failure modes mentioned previously. Te goals of this study include determining remaining shelf life of the systems and applying lessons learned to the development of new FASCAM systems.
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