 Advanced Ammo and Modern Munitions
Soldier Mod talks with Jeff Janey, Director of Strategy and Business Development with ATK Armament Systems
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Jeff Janey, Director of Strategy and Business Development with
ATK Armament Systems |
Jeff Janey has previously served in the United States Army as an attack helicopter pilot and requirements officer. While with ATK, Jeff has worked within business development supporting multiple ammunition, precision weapons, fusing and warhead related programs – both domestically and internationally.
Q: I know ATK was recently awarded a sweeping $186 million contract to provide the US Military with ammo, while much of that award remains classified, what can you tell me about it?
A: In addition to traditional, direct international sales to U.S. allies, we have created our AmmoBook program. Through our AmmoBook, we are developing partnerships worldwide to help fill production and/or capability gaps for our partners and sometimes for us. Through these partnering agreements, we can leverage each other’s offerings either regionally (domestically) or internationally to offer the customer the best pricing possible while also improving response and delivery turnaround time to the customer.
We also offer ammunition services that help U.S. allies maintain a sovereign defense production capability. As a leading developer and producer of small, medium and large caliber ammunition for the U.S. military, ATK understands that creating and sustaining the infrastructure necessary to maintain a domestic ammunition supply is a key component of a sound national defense and security strategy. ATK also understands the steps necessary to develop, maintain and set the conditions for future growth that are necessary to create a viable and affordable ammunition manufacturing complex that will serve both near term requirements and long term expectations.
Q: What kind of feedback have you received from unit commanders, or from individual troops, snipers, etc, who have used your ammo?
A: The primary response that we are hearing from our ultimate customer, the Warfighter, is that our ammunition has provided them with combat overmatch. While effectiveness is key in a combat situation, just as important is the excellent feedback we’ve received regarding our medium and large caliber ammunition’s record of reliability, and safety – especially given the severe climates and environmental conditions they have been exposed to during combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Q: I could not possibly discuss a feature on “better bullets” or “modern munitions” without mentioning the on-going quest for a true “smart round.” ATK has been on the cutting edge of such tech, in fact in a time of cuts, and austere DoD budgeting, the XM-25 “Punisher” Air Burst system, for which you provide the ammo, was one of the few programs to be continued. Tell me a little bit more about your on-going development and fielding of Air Burst munitions?
A: In addition to our XM25 individual weapon and ammunition that is currently in the engineering manufacture design phase, we are also continuing to develop next generation technologies to meet the emerging needs of the customer to counter future threats from 30 and 40mm weapons platforms. An example of that technology is through our Mk310, 30mm Air Bursting Munition (ABM). The ABM round provides ground and naval platforms armed with our MK44 cannon the capability to engage a vast number of targets with greater lethality than traditional point detonating high explosive ammunition.
For the XM25, we have developed the high explosive air burst (HEAB) tactical round and the target practice (TP) round. We’ve also had internal discussions on the future of the weapon system where the XM25 could make use of
specialty rounds such as non-lethal and breaching.
Q: And you are also particularly proud of the latest
advances in your Auto Cannon line, tell me a little more
about that system, what is new and improved?
A: We are seeing that there is a trend in the desire to upgun
combat vehicles. Our 30mm/40mm Mk44 Bushmaster®
Automatic Cannon fits this need in that it is an easy and
relatively inexpensive conversion for existing cannons or for
future consideration when developing new combat vehicles
and weapons platforms. As an example, a MK44 cannon can
be converted from 30 to 40mm in a field environment by the
combat vehicle crew in about 30 minutes by simply replacing
the barrel and four other parts (primarily related to the feed
and recoil system).
Having the option to transition between 30 and 40mm
also provides the opportunity to more economically train
with 30mm and then fight with 40mm. Additionally, the 30
to 40mm conversion could prove useful in the event of task
organization and the logistics required to support multiple
ammunition calibers.
Q: Without revealing anything that may be proprietary,
what is next in the development of your ammo? What
do you see as the future of ammunition as relates to US
and worldwide Soldier Modernisation programmmes?
A: We work very closely with our customers to understand
their emerging requirements so that we can better
understand current and future threats and how we can
help counter them – either through existing capabilities,
improvements to current ammunition, or, when necessary,
the creation of new ammunition.
Right now we are in the EMD phase of developing
the next generation kinetic energy 120mm tactical tank
ammunition – M829E4. We expect that we will be approved
for Milestone C later this year and then begin transition
to production and Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). The
M829E4 will provide the Abrams tank with a next generation
overmatch capability necessary to defeat the protective
armor of today’s most advanced protection for main
battle tanks as well as predicted armor protection for the
foreseeable future.
Also in tank ammunition, we have submitted our
proposal for the U.S. Army’s 105mm KE Trainer for the
Stryker 105mm Mobile Gun System. We expect to hear a
decision on that competition in late summer to fall of this
year. Additionally, we will apply our core competencies in
tank ammunition warhead, fuzing and our 30 plus years
of experience in the overall design and qualification of
tank ammunition to respond to the US Army’s RFI for an
Advanced Multi-Purpose 120mm round (AMP). The Army has
scheduled an industry day on 30 April for AMP.
We’ve also recently been working in the recapitalization
M865 120mm tank training ammunition. Through this
program, we have refurbished existing M865 training
ammunition for improved safety and usability and so that
existing stockpiles will have a greater period of use.
Q: Over the last few years at Soldier Mod, we have
reported often on DARPA’s EXACTO initiative, ATK is
actively involved in that programme, can you give us an
update?
A: Yes, we are partnering with Teledyne and working
through a DARPA contract to develop a guided .50 caliber
sniper round – the Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance
(EXACTO) round.
For military snipers, acquiring moving targets in
unfavorable conditions, such as high winds and dusty
terrain, is extremely challenging with current technology. It
is critical that snipers be able to engage targets faster, and
with better accuracy, since any shot that doesn’t hit a target
also risks the safety of troops by indicating their presence
and potentially exposing their location.
The Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance system seeks
to improve sniper effectiveness and enhance troop safety
by allowing greater shooter standoff range and reduction in
target engagement timelines. The objective of the EXACTO
program is to revolutionize rifle accuracy and range by
developing the first ever guided small-caliber bullet. The
EXACTO 50- caliber round and optical sighting technology
expects to greatly extend the day and nighttime range over
current state-of-the-art sniper systems. The system combines
a maneuverable bullet and a real-time guidance system to
track and deliver the projectile to the target, allowing the
bullet to change path during flight to compensate for any
unexpected factors that may drive it off course.
Phase II included the design, integration and
demonstration of aero-actuation controls, power sources,
optical guidance systems, and sensors. The program’s next
phase includes a system-level live-fire test and technology
refinement to enhance and improve performance.
 For more information please visit:
www.atk.com
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