EDA demonstrates capabilities of generic guided ammunition abort system

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has successfully demonstrated the capabilities of a generic guided ammunition abort system.

Demonstration of the system was carried out as part of EDA’s mission abort system for guided ammunition (MAS) project launched in 2013.

Built by Diehl BGT Defence and Finmeccanica, the demonstrator system was designed to cancel the flight of gun-launched precision ammunition, when the projectile exits the pre-defined safety corridor.

The MAS project was backed by both the German and Italian ministries of defence in the frame of EDA’s Capability Technology (CapTech) Ammunition Technologies group.

It was designed to address the challenges faced by most European shooting ranges, which are often too narrow and too short to adhere to necessary safety regulations for shooting tests with guided ammunition.

The project completed several phases, ranging from concept through to overall design, more detailed designs, construction, integration, and design verification tests.

It also involved aerodynamic analysis, safety area calculations and reliability analysis.

The final test involved firing of two MAS demonstrators with the Howitzer PzH2000 and was conducted at Meppen Proving Ground (WTD91) in Germany in 2016.

During the project, the EDA demonstrated the feasibility of mission abort systems for guided ammunition.

According to the agency, the miniaturisation of electronic components could facilitate the integration of MAS into rounds with calibres smaller than 70mm.