Future Armor Rearm System (FARS)

Modern weapon systems are designed to fight and deliver maximum firepower, but they lack the ability to carry large amounts of munitions aboard or to reload rapidly to perform sustained combat operations. Each combat unit must return to a resupply point for replenishment to keep it an effective fighting force. Of all these supplies, ammunition is perhaps the most critical, and the task of resupplying ammunition is becoming ever more complex. Presently, the world's most lethal main battle tank, the MlAl Abrams, must be rearmed one round at a time through the top of the turret, while the Army's howitzers must load four separate components - fuze, primer, propellant, and projectile - for each artillery round. The M2 Bradley fighting vehicle's ammunition stowage and rearm methods need improvement to sustain intense combat operations. The Cobra and Apache helicopters must spend considerable time on the ground to rearm. The concept of rapid rearm and resupply requires integration and optimization of the combat soldier's needs in relation to his weapon and those of the logistician and his resupply system. To enhance this critical element of nology programs are underway at Picatinay Arsenal, N. J., to improve weapon system rearmament. New systems in development for armor, artillery, infantry, and aviation promise anew era of rapid battlefield rearmament. Warfighthg, =vera1 advanced tech-Armor units resupply during lulls in combat, or when necessary to replenish combat loads. This general-Rearm System (FARS)

FARS Concept

MOLOG) has established a program, the Future Armor Rearm System (FARS), to meet deficiencies in rearming armor units. The FARS program is intended to develop, integrate, and demonstrate technologies capable of moving present and future one- and two-pieced ammunition from a rearm vehicle into the bustle of the future tank. This program is under the direction of the Project Manager for Ammunition Logistics, and includes representatives of the Human Engineering Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Tooele Army Depot. Concepts for handling and transferring ammunition were conceptualized in 1989, and a demonstration is scheduled in conjunction with the Advanced Tank Cannon (ATAC) System in FY 92 and the Tank-ARMOR - 17

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T l4QMM PROP CHARGES--r r 14OMM PROJECTILES

Figure 2 - Carousel Storage System in Module Automotive Command CATI’Bin to “dock” with the tank. The FY 94. The concept calls for a operator can select and transfer am-module mounted on the rear of the MLRS medium-type chassis. A bear- A series of three rotary carousel ing and drive motor mechanism magazine storage cells within the allow 36O-degree rotation of the module hold either a projectile or module. In the travel mode, the two propellant charges for the new munition from the cab.

Fig. 3 - Extraction Mechanism 5 module boom is oriented over the chassis cab. The rotating module per-nits the rearm vehicle to load ammo into the tank from either side or over the rear deck (see figure 1). Rotation of the module and manipulation of the extendable boom are controlled by an operator from the front seat of the vehicle cab. Using video and sensing devices, the operator can align the boom with the tank‘s rear rearm port, thus permitting the boom two-piece ATAC 140-mm ammunition. There are twenty projectiles in each of the lower two carousels, and forty propellant charges in the top carousel (see figure 2); thus each stack contains forty complete rounds. Stacks of carousels are to be placed A slngie exmmcror meuwusrn WILQ powered rollers (see figure 3) permits the removal of a cartridge component from any cell in the carousel. The operator moves the carousel until the desired component is above the extractor mechanism. The extractor can pass ammo from stack to stack, or from one cell to a lift table located in the module in line with the transfer boom (see figure 2). The lift table takes the component from the carousels, then moves in pitch and elevation to align with the conveyors located in the transfer boom. The conveyors move the ammo through the articulated boom to the tank, where it is passed through the docking port to the awaiting cell of the tank autoloader. Exploring tomorrow’s issues today, with emerging technologies, is just another way the Project Manager for Ammunition Logistics provides professional and imaginative solutions to ammunition logistics. Nelson Gravenstede is currently the Armor System Project Officer at the Office of the Project Manager for Ammunition Logistics, Picatinny Arsenal, N. J. With a background of working on armor systems during all of his 25 years of government service, his most recent program was the development and fielding of the logistically improved PA116 metal container and pallet currently used to package all 120-mm tank ammunition for the M1 A1 fleet. Constantly striving to improve the ammunition logistics systems for the Armor Force, he currently is managing the Future Armor Rearm System tech base effort to permit tank rearmament under armor in the forward area. 78 ARMOR - July-AuguSt 7997