HYPERSONIC, SUPPRESSOR-COMPATIBLE SMALL ARMS AND HYPERSONIC FLIGHT-SAFE AERIAL GUNNERY AMMUNITION

Abstract

This paper starts with a brief overview of aerial gunnery evolution and USAF efforts to design discarding sabot ammunition from its inception until 1998 when it ceased advanced aerial gunnery RDT&E. In 2016 a new configuration was conceived, enabling novel flight-safe discarding sabot (FSDS) families of ammunition. These Ballistic Aeromechanically Stable Sabot (BASS) and Maneuvering Aeromechanically Stable Sabot (MASS) designs use monolithic sabots that clear airframes after firing by executing aeromechanically stable maneuvers. Everfaster variants of BASS and MASS rounds have methodically gained muzzle velocity, eventually reaching hypersonic speeds. The overall performance of these rounds are contrasted against the performance of conventional families of ammunition used in air-to-air and air-to-ground engagements for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Special variants of BASS and MASS ammunition are also shown to be compatible with small-arms and mid-caliber suppressors through hypersonic muzzle velocities. The paper concludes with summaries of performance, IP landscape and new mission enablement.