SMARTER RESUPPLY
THE 40 MM LOW-VELOCITY M433E1 HEDP CARTRIDGE PM MAS will rapidly field the modernized M433E1 HEDP cartridge. Te 40 mm M433E1 cartridge is a point detonating munition that will be used with the Army’s M320 grenade launcher or legacy M203 grenade launcher attached to the M4 carbine or M16 rifle. It can also be fired from a standalone M320 grenade launcher. Point detonating munitions use a mechanical fuze that arms after launch and functions upon contact, initiating the high-explosive charge.
Te new modernized M433E1 HEDP focuses on improving and optimizing three areas: lethality, accuracy and safety. Te M433E1 was redesigned to increase lethality within a five-meter radius of deto- nation against exposed enemy personnel, as well as to improve shot-to-shot disper- sion (accuracy and consistency in the landing area) through an optimized aero- dynamic shape of the projectile. The major components of the M433E1 HEDP cartridge are the improved fuze, warhead, and cartridge case loading assembly.
Lethality The most impressive and important improvement is the optimization of the warhead to increase lethality and thereby the safety of the warfighter. Te new warhead contains significantly more tungsten alloy fragments across the entire warhead—increasing effectiveness and lethality by up to 75 percent, compared with the legacy M433 cartridge—a game changer for grenadiers in close contact with enemy troops in the future.
Accuracy Te M433E1 HEDP also incorporates a newly designed propulsion system and a more aerodynamic projectile designed to optimize the ballistic performance of the munition. Te propulsion system leverages
26 Army AL&T Magazine Spring 2023
an improved cartridge case designed to accommodate the additional propellent load required to fire the heavier M433E1 projectile. M433E1 is 25 percent heavier than the legacy M433. Te improved aero- ballistics design of the M433E1 projectile reduces drag on the munition as it flies to target and provides more consistent shot-to-shot dispersion, compared with the legacy M433. Te improved propul- sion system and aeroballistics shape of the M433E1 projectile will provide grenadiers with increased confidence that they will be able to put rounds on target with improved accuracy and consistency.
Safety Te M433E1 uses the improved M550E1 fuze, an upgrade to the M550 fuze on the legacy M433 cartridge. Fuze assem- bly includes a safety feature that has been proven to prevent early, accidental arming, which dramatically improves safe handling of the rounds during transport, and combat conditions.
SOLDIER FEEDBACK Product Manager Medium Caliber has also been working hand in hand with the Program Executive Office for Soldier’s Project Manager for Soldier Lethal- ity, which is responsible for the M320 and M203 grenade launchers that will fire the M433E1. As part of qualifica- tion, thousands of rounds will be fired through several M320 grenade launchers, the primary low-velocity 40 mm weapon system used by grenadiers, to ensure weapon compatibility.
With increased lethality comes increased user-felt recoil, so the medium caliber team is working with Soldiers to ensure all risks are identified and mitigated as the effort moves toward final development mile- stones in the third quarter of fiscal year 2023. Te M433E1 packs a bigger punch when firing (more recoil), it also punches
harder at the point of impact (more lethal), and with added safety improvements, it gives Soldiers enhanced capability.
HISTORY AND CURRENT STATUS Te 40 mm low-velocity M433E1 HEDP grenade began as an improvement resup- ply effort to upgrade the 1960s technology used in the legacy low-velocity 40 mm M433 with modern materials,
fabri-
cation processes and analysis. Te aim was to develop a new cartridge from the ground up, improving all aspects of the ammunition, including warhead lethal effectiveness and aeroballistics. While the government worked closely with industry partners throughout the development of the M433E1, the technical data package is 100 percent U.S. government owned.
In addition to developing the design for the M433E1 HEDP, the government team also leveraged the competency areas and subject matter expertise at Picatinny Arsenal to develop a warhead-fabrication process that ensured that the increased lethality from the M433E1 warhead was producible and affordable. Prototype warheads were fabricated using the govern- ment-developed process and were tested and evaluated using several test methods to ensure performance was optimal.
Once the M433E1 design was complete and government prototypes were fabri- cated and tested, the M433E1 development effort transitioned to industry partners to establish production-level fabrication processes for the M433E1 before entering qualification testing. It is critical to ensure that the DOD industrial base can manu- facture the cartridge in a high-volume production environment to reduce produc- tion costs and increase production output. As such, the M433E1 HEDP design was provided to industry for a producibility analysis and subsequent fabrication of
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