O-088 A Review of the recent IM Design Technology Workshop

From its initial concept in the 1970s, Insensitive Munitions (IM) have developed and are now recognized as one of the key considerations when designing and/or procuring munitions. The IM goals defined in AOP 39 and STANAG 4439 have provided much of the drive behind the progress made and there are now a wide range of different technologies and techniques that can be employed to reduce the vulnerability and response of munitions to unplanned stimuli. Although much of the technology has been reported at various symposia, until now there has been no single source that provides a snapshot of the current state of the art of IM design. Such a source would be an invaluable tool for both procurement bodies and munition designers, as it would enhance their awareness of potential new technologies for IM design. This would increase the scope for incorporating new or novel IM technologies within new or existing munitions, along with raising the profile of IM within the munition safety and design communities and munition procurement organizations, thereby providing further impetus in the drive towards IM inventories.

In response to requests from its member nations, NIMIC held a workshop on IM Design Technology in 2003, with the principal aim being to produce an IM design technology state of the art report. This paper provides an overview of the workshop and summarises its outputs, with particular emphasis on the final report.