Defense Technologies Department Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Sarajevo, www.dtd.

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Illumination ammunition
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Characterics of illumination
Battlefield illumination gives friendly forces enough light to aid them in ground operations at night. The illuminationprojectile is used to:
Illuminate areas of suspected enemy activity. Provide illumination for night adjustment. Harass enemy positions. Furnish direction to friendly troops for attacks or patrol activities. Mark targets (by air and ground bursts) for attack by close air support. "Wash out" enemy passive night-sight systems when used at ground level.

Combat experiences in World War II and Korea have shown that an on-hand mix of 70 percent HE, 20 percent WP or smoke, and 10 percent illumination ammunition (20 % in Iraq) is the most flexible. The percentage of ammunition used by the unit should be modified by the commander on the basis of the mission.

Structure of illumination projectile

Base Ejection Projectile (Projectile 155 mm Illuminating, M485)

Height of Burst
The proper HOB allows the flare to strike the ground just as it stops burning. For illuminating a very prominent object, better visibility can be obtained if the flare is placed beyond the object so that the object is silhouetted. The correct position of the flare in relation to the area to be lit depends on the terrain and wind. The flare should be to one flank of the area and at about the same range. In a strong wind, the point of burst must be some distance upwind from the area to be lit, because the flare will drift.

Illumination proejctile

New concept

Old concept

155 mm DM 106 Illumination Projectile

The illumination pods are ejected at an altitude of about 600 m and descend to the ground at a velocity of 5 m/s. During the projectile descent, an area of approximately 800 meters in diameter is lit up with a luminous intensity of 1.8 million candela.

Illumination projectile
The M485A2 provides battlefield illumination of 1 million candle power for 155mm artillery systems. The projectile accepts standard mechanical and electric time fuzing and is compatible with all fielded U.S. 155mm artillery systems. The M485A2 projectile provides 1,000,000 candlepower of illumination for 120 seconds. Considered sufficient to illuminate a circle 1000 meters in diameter. The M485 Series Illumination Projectiles expels the Illuminate candle, which lights approximately 7 Seconds later. The TFT AM-2 provides the firing data for the 600 meter height of burst, described in the TFT as the HOB (Height of Burst) for the illumination ignition. Approximate rate of fall is 5 meters per second. Illumination is a base-ejecting projectile that requires a fuze that makes the projectile expel its payload over the target area by mechanical time action. Two fuzes that perform this action are: M565 Mechanical Time and M577 Mechanical Time Super Quick.

Illumination ammunition
Instant and efficient illumination with superior observation as well as visibility of target area. Extremely smooth burning reaction (minimum shadow movement), constant rate of vertical descent by special parachute design. 75% saturation of color at 585 nm medium shade of same light band

Ejection of flare
The M314 illumination FCI is based on causing the fuse to function at a height of burst of 750 meters directly above the target. The parachute deploys and decelerates the flare when the fuze functions and immediately illuminates the target area. The M485 illumination FCI is based on a completely different sequence of events. When the M485 projectile was developed, the velocity of the illuminant was too great for a parachute to reliably deploy without shredding due to the weight of the illuminant.

COORDINATED

ILLUMINATION

The M485A2 projectile provides 1,000,000 candlepower of illumination for 120 seconds. Considered sufficient to illuminate a circle 1000 meters in diameter. The M485 Series Illumination Projectiles expels the Illuminate candle, which lights approximately 7 Seconds later. The TFT AM-2 provides the firing data for the 600 meter height of burst, described in the TFT as the HOB (Height of Burst) for the illumination ignition . Approximate rate of fall is 5 meters per second.

Ilumination projectile 155 mm

Illumination 155 MM

5m/s

1,000,000 CP 120 sec

600 m 600 m

Ejection of flare
To eliminate this problem, when the fuze functions, a small drogue parachute deploys that pulls the illuminant from the projectile. The drogue falls away, and the illuminant free falls for eight seconds, decelerating due to atmospheric friction. A small charge then deploys the main parachute and ignites the magnesium flare (which at that time is directly over the target) at a height of 600 meters. The difference between the two systems is where on the trajectory the fuze functions to eject the flare. For the M314 105-mm round, it's directly over the target. For the M485 155-mm round, it's significantly before the projectile passes over the target and at an unknown height of burst. The height of burst is unknown because the M485 firing tables are based on the need to cause the flare to ignite at 600 meters over the target.)

Ejection of flare
The location on the trajectory where the fuze functions is based on the remaining velocity of the projectile (at the moment of fuze functioning), the angle of fall (the least angle measured clockwise from the base of the horizontal to a line tangent to the trajectory at the level point) and the horizontal yaw of the projectile along the trajectory caused by drift. Now, if the minimum range line is substituted for the target in the figures, it can create confusion. Even if we reduce the height of burst by 600 meters, the 155-mm illumination projectile may function more than 1,000 meters short of the target and at a height of burst ranging from less than 50 meters to nearly 400 meters.

Illumination projectile 105 mm MONA

Illumination of flare of 105 mm projectile

Illumination modul with parachute

Illumination projectile 155 mm

Illumination mortar projectile

Infra-red illumination

Effect of illumination ammunition

Illumination Devices
Visible and near-infrared illumination enhance nighttime operations. Free-fall and standoff visible illumination devices provide illumination for nighttime missions, including rescue operations. The latest in a series, these devices incorporate advanced design and material concepts derived from state-of-the-art aerospace technology for enhanced performance, operational safety, and reliability. The company also is now producing near-infrared illumination devices. Illumination in the near-infrared range of the spectrum enhances the capability of night vision devices by four times and eliminates the bright illumination that radiates from other flares.

LUU-2B/B Aircraft Deployed Illumination Flare

The LUU-2B/B is an aircraft-deployed search and rescue flare. The flare is used with all standard flare launching systems on helicopter, cargo and fighter aircraft. The M-257 Standoff Illuminating Flare is a standard warhead for the Hydra-70 (70mm) rocket system. It provides battlefield illumination at standoff distances from the target area.

M-278 infra red flare

LUU-19A/B Near Illumination flare

The M-257 illuminating flare is a standard warhead for the Hydra70 (70 mm) rocket system

Ground illumination