north atlantic treaty organization manual of data requirements and

547 Pages·2005·1.88 MB·English

NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED

AOP-7
(Edition 2)

ALLIED
ORDNANCE
PUBLICATION

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

MANUAL OF DATA REQUIREMENTS
AND TESTS FOR
THE QUALIFICATION OF
EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS
FOR MILITARY USE

(TOC)

June 2003

NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
AOP-7
Edition 2

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
AOP-7
Edition 2

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

NATO STANDARDIZATION AGENCY (NSA)

NATO LETTER OF PROMULGATION

1. AOP-7 (Edition 2) - MANUAL OF DATA REQUIREMENTS AND TESTS FOR THE
QUALIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS FOR MILITARY USE is a NATO/PfP
UNCLASSIFIED publication.

2. AOP-7 (Edition 2) is effective upon receipt.

3. AOP-7 (Edition 2) contains only factual information. Changes to these are not subject to the
national ratification procedures; they will be promulgated on receipt by the nations concerned.

Jan H ERIKSEN
Rear Admiral, NONA
Director, NSA
(TOC)
I
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
AOP-7
Edition 2

RESERVATIONS

NATION RESERVATIONS

(TOC)
II
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
AOP-7
Edition 2
RECORD OF AMENDMENTS

Identification of
Amendment/Change – Section Date By whom
Remarks
No. Entered Entered

III
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
AOP-7
Edition 2

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
IV
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
AOP-7
Edition 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE
NATO LETTER OF PROMULGATION I

RESERVATIONS II

RECORD OF AMMENDMENTS III

TABLE OF CONTENTS V

1. INTRODUCTION 1-1
2. OBJECTIVES 3-1
3. SCOPE 3-1
4. DEFINITIONS AND REFERENCED POLICY DOCUMENTS 4-1
5. METHODS TO RECORD AND ISSUE DATA 5-1
6. REVIEWS AND REVISIONS OF THIS MANUAL. 6-1
7. ASSESSMENT PRINCIPLES AND COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
7-1
QUALIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES

7.1 Primary Explosives 7-3
7.2 Booster Explosives 7-5
7.3 High Explosives 7-9
7.4 Solid Gun & Rocket Propellants. 7-11
7.5 Liquid Propellants 7-13
7.6 Pyrotechnic Compositions 7-15

8. AGING PROTOCOLS 8-1

9. FINAL (or TYPE) QUALIFICATION 9-1

10. NATIONAL QUALIFICATION PROCEDURES AND TEST
10-1
INFORMATION SHEETS

10.7.1 Canada CN-1
10.7.2 Czech Republic CZ-1
10.7.3 Denmark DN-1
10.7.4 Finland FN-1
10.7.5 France FR-1
10.7.6 Germany GE-1
10.7.7 Italy IT-1
10.7.8 Norway NL-1
10.7.9 Poland NO-1
10.7.10 Romania PL-1
10.7.11 Netherlands RO-1
10.7.12 Slovak Republic SK-1
10,7.13 Sweden SW-1
10.7.14 Switzerland CH-1
10.7.15 United Kingdom UK-1
10.7.16 United States US-1
10.7.17 Belgium BE-1
(TOC)
V
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
AOP-7
Edition 2

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

VI
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
AOP-7
Edition 2
CHAPTER 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Explosive materials such as high explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics are used in weapon
systems to perform a variety of functions. They provide the energy required to deliver the
payload to the target and to obtain the desired terminal effect. Because of their high energy
content, these materials are sensitive and can be initiated by stimuli such as heat, shock, friction,
impact, and electrostatic discharge. All of these stimuli may be encountered in development
programs, and later in the manufacture, transport, storage, and operational or training use of
explosive materials.

1.2 The careful and judicious selection of explosives is important since it will affect the sensitivity and
safety of munitions and the vulnerability of weapon platforms. Trade-off with performance can be
made, but in general, the more powerful the explosive used, the more sensitive it is to stimuli, and
the more protection must be provided to shield munitions in hazardous areas. Since in many
applications space is limited, it is often impossible or unfeasible to provide the increased
protection. Therefore, in qualifying explosives, National Authorities must exercise caution and
concern for the sensitivity and the suitability for service of the explosive materials being
considered for all military applications. Further, munition designers should select the least
sensitive explosive material that meets the operational requirements defined for their application.

1.3 In the past, the tests, and criteria used by each North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
country to accept explosives for military use have not been readily available nor, in general, well
documented. This has delayed the NATO-wide acceptance of explosives, hindered munitions
interoperability programs, caused unnecessary testing redundancy, and wasted the valuable
material and financial resources of countries in the Alliance.

1.4 The use of modeling to assess the behavior of explosive materials under a wide range of stimuli
and scenarios is important. The Qualification phase lends itself to the determination of the
intrinsic properties of the explosive materials and allows for the generation of a range of modeling
parameters. This then will allow those nations wishing to model small and intermediate-scale
testing the opportunity to develop appropriate models and computer codes. In addition, it will
facilitate the development of generic test vehicles and test methods that will underpin and support
weapons safety and suitability for service activities. The AC/310 Subgroup 1 will consider further
development along these lines in the future.

1.5 The recognition of the differences in weapon sensitivity evaluations and in the explosives
selection processes among NATO nations, led to the establishment of the AC/310 Cadre Group
and four Subgroups. This organization operates under the aegis of the Conference of National
Armament Directors (CNAD). Since 1997 the AC/310 group has admitted non-aligned,
Partnership for Peace (PfP), nations who wish to participate in these activities. The four
Subgroups in AC/310 address, respectively, Explosive Materials, Fuzing Systems, Environment,
and Generic Classes of Munitions.

1.6 Subgroup 1 (Explosive Materials) has developed an approach and is standardizing the tests used
to acquire the data deemed necessary for the Qualification of military explosives. The Subgroup
recognizes that substantial continuing efforts must be directed toward the following:

1.6.1 The development of Standardization Agreements, STANAGs, on test equipment, and test
procedures used to acquire the data to satisfy national requirements for the Qualification of
explosives used by the military.

1.6.2 The formation and identification of central repositories of data on qualified explosives in each
member country to facilitate the exchange of information used in munitions co-development or
cross-procurement programs.
1-1
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED
AOP-7
Edition 2
1.6.3 The documentation of tests and acceptance criteria which may be unique to one nation to permit
other NATO members to understand and interpret the data exchanged in terms of the specific
test apparatus, procedures, and criteria employed.

1.6.4 The development of STANAGs to assure that the explosives used by the NATO forces are
produced to the same or equivalent material specification and to the same or equivalent quality
assurance principles.

1.7 STANAG 4170, "Principles and Methodology for the Qualification of Explosive Materials for
Military Use," documents the agreement to standardize the assessment principles and
methodology. This manual supplements STANAG 4170 and presents the specific requirements,
techniques, and tests used by the participating nations to implement the STANAG.

1.8 This document is officially designated Allied Ordnance Publication No. 7, "Manual of Data
Requirements and Tests for the Qualification of Explosive Materials for Military Use." The
abbreviated designation "AOP-7" is used throughout this manual.

(TOC)
1-2
NATO/PfP UNCLASSIFIED