TAPPING GLOBAL EXPERTISE
Ordnance and Tactical Systems-Canada and Nordic Ammuni- tion Company (Nammo), both competed with 7.62 mm OWL prototypes, creating prototype laboratories that enable quick adjustments to the OWL mix. Once adjustments were made, the companies could quickly manufacture and test prototypes on limited ballistics and OWL performance. Uniquely, at Nammo’s prototype laboratory in Sweden, manufacturing and testing is all on one site allowing for flexibility and quick turns critical to the EMD phase. Leveraging competition and the iterative prototyping, PdM SCA and DEVCOM-AC established flexibil- ity in determining the optimal OWL mix within the tracer cavity accompanied by a quick turn on testing and data exchange.
Nammo has subsidiaries in the U.S., that allows for smoother communication across international boundaries. While that adds a layer of communication, the benefits of knowledge management and engagement are heightened. Nammo brought additional cutting-edge technologies and manufacturing processes to the table that are now being incorporated into future facility designs at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP). Nammo was receptive to data and technical machining adjustments needed to fit the landscape of manufacturing at LCAAP established by the strong relationship built by PdM SCA and DEVCOM-AC.
In collaboration with LCAAP, PdM SCA and DEVCOM-AC took lessons learned and tactics from both GD-Canada and Nammo and incorporated them into manufacturing capabili- ties at LCAAP.
THE ART OF EXCHANGE: NAVIGATING CHALLENGES Key challenges faced in international contracting and collab- oration are most often felt through intellectual property and communication barriers. The technology in small-caliber ammunition may be sensitive in nature to protect our intellec- tual property from being seen by our adversaries. Establishing clear contracts and agreements that outline intellectual property ownership and licensing protection mitigates most intellectual property challenges. Another vehicle to help protect sensi- tive information when collaborating abroad has been through using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). NDAs enable deeper conversations with international industry, mitigating some of the challenges to keep industry and U.S. government informa- tion safeguarded.
Breaking the barrier of communications is critical as inter- national partnerships are developed. Written agreements and
SHAPING THE FUTURE
U.S. Army Soldiers conduct a Limited User Assessment for OWL in May 2024. This event was led by the Maneuver Battle Lab, Maneuver Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate. Soldiers provided key feedback on OWL tracer technology versus legacy tracers. Over two weeks Soldiers executed zeroing, qualification tables and a collective live-fire event. (Photo by the author, JPEO A&A)
6
Army AL&T Magazine
Spring 2025
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