U.S. Military Comes to Battelle for Rapid Prototyping of Lethality and Armament Systems, Weapons Platforms

COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwired - Aug 19, 2014) - When the U.S. Army needs assistance designing, fabricating and testing new technology for the field, they call on qualified companies for help. Battelle, a leader in defense technology, is one of them.

Battelle's expertise in armament and munitions research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E), and product engineering and development combine to make it uniquely suited to identify emerging technologies for legacy munition improvement and to create new weapons performance capabilities. 

For example, the Army wants to simplify and update complex 40mm ammunition designs to improve performance and affordability by taking advantage of modern manufacturing processes and new -- better performing -- materials. Battelle assembled a team of ammunition industry leaders to tackle the issue. The Battelle team analyzed technical data packages and quality assurance criteria to generate prototype 40mm grenade designs that are easier to manufacture, have fewer components and cost the less to procure. In addition, the group manufactured prototypes for test and evaluation and produced verification of the improved designs.

In another project, Battelle researchers and engineers performed manufacturing analysis of small arms weapons, such as machine guns. Battelle experts examined the materials used in the weapons, the tolerance stack for each component in the systems and the quality assurance metrics, identified issues and made recommendations to resolve them. The results were technical data packages that were consistent and easy to manufacture.

Battelle is one of seven companies recently awarded the Rapid Prototyping and Technology Insertion (RPTI) task order contract with a potential ceiling of $300 million over five years. The RTPI is part of the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC).

The wide-ranging contract will call upon Battelle expertise in the following areas:

• Development of new energetic materials, precursors and binders
• Armor development and testing
• Ammunition and armament product improvements
• Munitions non-destructive test (NDT) methodology and system development
• STANAG and MIL-STD testing of munitions
• Developing tracked and wheeled mobile robot enhancements and technologies
• Improving manufacturing productivity leading to lower costs
• Developing or testing explosives detection systems
• Designing battery storage technology
• Using Geometric Dimension Tolerance (GD&T) to improve the manufacturing of armament components and updating Technical Data Packages (TDP)
• Improving the sustainment of lethality systems by providing expert component failure analysis
• Fabrication of armament related products, components and subassemblies
• Fabrication and refurbishment of armament related manufacturing equipment

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.