Conventional Munitions

The Conventional Munitions program, part of the Air Force's Applied Research category, is dedicated to advancing guidance and ordnance technologies for conventional munitions. Its primary goal is to establish the technical feasibility and military utility of these technologies. This includes munitions aerodynamics, guidance, navigation, and control systems. The program focuses on developing seekers capable of high-confidence target discrimination and classification, as well as navigation technologies that operate independently of GPS. It also explores various warhead types such as blast and fragmentation warheads, emphasizing collaborative fuzing and high-performance explosives to enhance munition effectiveness.

Within this program, the Advanced Guidance Technology project is committed to improving guidance technologies for munitions. It involves developing innovative munition seekers that function in adverse weather conditions or GPS-denied environments. The project aims to increase the precision of munition guidance, improve weapon reliability and affordability, and enhance aerospace vehicle survivability. Key objectives include advancing seeker technologies for precise target location and robust terminal tracking, along with integrating weapons into the kill chain for flexible targeting.

Ordnance Technology is another essential component of the Conventional Munitions program. This project focuses on developing advanced explosives, fuzes, warheads, and weapon airframes. It seeks to improve storage capability and transportation safety while enhancing warhead effectiveness and sub-munition dispensing. Additionally, the project aims to reduce aerospace vehicle drag through low-cost airframe components. Efforts include researching energetic materials for increased energy density and developing additive manufacturing techniques for kinetic weapon lethality.

The Conventional Munitions program supports the development of cutting-edge technologies that enhance the lethality and effectiveness of conventional munitions while ensuring safety and reliability. By focusing on both guidance and ordnance advancements, it aims to provide the Air Force with superior capabilities in various combat scenarios. These efforts are crucial for maintaining technological superiority in modern warfare environments where precision and adaptability are paramount.