120mm KE Cartridge DM 63
12 February 2005
The DM 63 cartridge from Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH is based on the already fielded DM 53. The essential difference between the two cartridges lies in the propulsion unit.
Instead of a conventional propulsion unit, the DM 63 is the first 120mm high-performance KE round to be equipped with a temperature-independent propulsion system (TIPS®), based on SCDB® technology. Apart from temperature-independent performance data, the design of the propulsion unit of the DM 63 was aimed not so much at achieving an improvement in performance but instead at attaining a distinct reduction in erosion while maintaining the same level of performance (+15°C same Vo as DM 53). To achieve this objective in optimum fashion, the one-piece combustible case was modified with respect to the erosion-reducing characteristics of its combustion gases.
The intended Vo of 1,650 m/s (L44) is attained with a pure bulk powder charge featuring a mass of approx. 8.45 kg and a maximum gas pressure of approx. 545 MPa. Taking into account the cartridge conditions arising under typical operational circumstances in climate zone A3, the temperature performance in the L44 develops as shown below:
The span of Vo and pressure throughout the entire temperature range is less than 60 m/s and 60 MPa. At low temperatures, the gain in performance is particularly noticeable, as is the avoidance of unnecessarily high pressure and performance levels at high temperatures with respect to terminal ballistics.
Apart from the balanced temperature performance, the DM 63 displays the following advantages:
- Useable in all Leopard 2 weapon systems, A4 through A6
- Deployable at temperatures ranging from -46°C to +71°C (climate zones C3 – A1)
- Under all operating conditions, gas pressure levels throughout the temperature range are less than 575MPa
- Significantly lower erosion, especially at higher temperatures
- Identical terminal ballistic performance at reference Vo
- Improved terminal ballistic performance at low temperatures
- Greater first-shot kill probability
- Better LOVA characteristics
