O-041 THAMES 3.0 - The Window to Threat Hazard Assessment (Version 2)

THAMES 3.0 is an MS-Windows software application which supports Threat Hazard Assessment of a munition during its life-cycle for those concerned with the operational planning, procurement, development and assessment of munitions. A Threat Hazard Assessment performed with THAMES 3.0 results in an overview of all the perceived threats that are considered relevant for a munition in a prescribed scenario. It allows assessment of both munition safety as well as its explosive hazard and suggests particular tests to be performed. The methodology supported by THAMES 3.0 was previously described in a NIMIC report in 1994, but following the results of an input analysis conducted with specialists from France, United Kingdom and the United States it has now been improved to enhance the Threat Hazard Analysis process. THAMES 3.0 incorporates all relevant NATO documents associated with munition safety and suitability as well as Insensitive Munition (IM) requirements, and allows the capability to include relevant national documents.

THAMES for Windows is currently under development and its first version 3.0 is envisaged to be ready for distribution by July 1998. THAMES 3.x will be available for Microsoft Windows 9.5 and Microsoft Windows NT. The foreseen functionalities that THAMES 3.x will provide are the following, of which some will be demonstrated in this presentation:

• the ability to define situations a munition may be in during its expected life-cycle, and within each situation define threats to which that munition may be exposed. The assessment may start from the default incorporated scenario, which concentrates on the Threat/Stimuli pertinent to meeting Insensitive Munitions Requirements;
• the ability to indicate the munition consequences on its surroundings from defined threats within each situation;
• the ability to indicate the probabilities of defined threats within each situation; 
• the ability to indicate the acceptable response of the munition to threats both within individual situations and during its full life-cycle;
• the ability to present the application of documents used within THAMES 3.x;
• the ability to visualize the reasoning process undertaken when performing a Threat Hazard Assessment;
• the capability to collaborate within different groups, services or countries on Threat Hazard Assessments which may be specific to a single project as well as providing a traceability facility.