Tactical Missile Recycling at the ANMC

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Tactical Missile Recycling at the ANMC
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Army Tactical Missile Systems
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Recycling is the Alternative to OB/OD
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What is a Missile Recycling Capability?
gt98 of TOW missile components are
recyclable - Missile Warheads
- Guidance Control Packages - Rocket Motor
Propellants - Airframe Components -
Rocket Motor Cases - Shipping Containers
Major MRC Modules - Missile Disassembly
- Energetics Processing - Rocket Motor
Denozzling - Slurry Explosive
Manufacturing - Propellant Removal -
Hardware Decontamination - Warhead Explosive
Removal - Material Handling Shredding
Equipment - Energetics Size Reduction
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ANMC MRC Module Locations
Building 381 Missile Disassembly Processes
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EPM Site Ingredient Extraction Recovery
Building 65 Slurry Explosives Manufacturing
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ANMC MRC Building 381
Existing vacant building has been upgraded to
accommodate MRC modules

• Work cells for
• Missile Disassembly
• Propellant Warhead
• Separations
• Hardware Recovery

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ANMC - Building 381
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MRC Disassembly Module
Disassembly of TOW Missile
Major Hardware Components

• Disassembles missile into major subsystem
  components
• Segregates rocket motors, warheads, and inert
  hardware components for recycling operations

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MRC Disassembly Module
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MRC Disassembly Module
Air Frame Components from TOW Disassembly
Electronic Units from TOW Disassembly
Launch Tubes from TOW Disassembly
gt 98 of TOW Missile Components are Recovered for
Recycling
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MRC Denozzling Module
Flight Motor Denozzling
Launch Motor Denozzling
TOW Launch Motor
TOW Flight Motor
Flight Motor with Nozzle Removed
Launch Motor with Nozzle Removed

• Removes aft closure (nozzle) from forward motor
  section
• Provides access to rocket motor propellants
• Damage free recovery of motor hardware

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MRC Denozzling Module
TOW Launch Motor Denozzling Bay
TOW Launch Motor Denozzling Machine
Launch Motor Components
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MRC Denozzling Module
TOW Flight Motor Denozzling Bay
TOW Flight Motor Denozzling Machine
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MRC Propellant Removal Modules
Squib Retaining Nut Removal Machine
Vertical Milling Machine

• Provides low cost/high rate method for efficient
  propellant removal
• Recovers cartridge loaded and case bonded
  propellants for recycling

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MRC Propellant Removal Module
TOW Squib Retaining Nut Removal Machine
TOW Squib Retaining Nut Removal Machine
TOW Double Base Cartridge-Loaded Grain
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MRC Propellant Removal Module
TOW Igniter Assembly Removal Machine
TOW Igniter Assembly Removal Machine
Squib and Igniter Assembly Components
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MRC Propellant Removal Modules
Motor Case Holding Fixture
Cutting Head
Typical Propellant Chips
Vertical Milling Machine
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MRC Propellant Removal Module
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MRC Warhead Explosive Removal Module
Warhead Billet Splitting Machine
Warhead Billet Removal Machine

• Removes entire explosive warhead billet from
  outer casing
• Separates warhead explosive from shaped charge
  liner

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MRC Warhead Explosive Removal Module
Warhead Billet Removal Machine
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MRC Warhead Explosive Removal Module
Warhead Billet Splitting Machine
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MRC Warhead Explosive Removal Module
LX-14 Split from Cone
Warhead Billet in Contact with Knives
Aluminum Warhead Casing Recovered
Shaped-Charge Copper Cone Recovered
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MRC Energetics Size Reduction Module
Before Size Reduction
Energetics Size Reduction
After Size Reduction

• Reduces the size of recovered bulk energetic
  materials
• Provides granulated feedstock for energetic
  material recycling

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MRC Energetics Size Reduction Module
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Redstone Pilot Plant Energetics Processing Module
(EPM)
EPM extracts, separates, and recovers propellant
and warhead oxidizers
Located at Redstone Arsenal
Pilot plant provides technical basis for
full-scale engineering development
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Oxidizers Recovered from Propellants and Warheads
Recovered RDX
Recovered HMX
Recovered AP
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MRC Energetics Processing Module
Extraction Vessel
On-going EPM Construction
Vertical EPM Tower

• Recovers high value, energetic oxidizers (HMX,
  RDX, AP)
• from propellant and warhead feedstocks
• Recovers and recycles liquid ammonia processing
  solvent
• within a closed-loop system

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MRC Energetics Processing Module
Installation of the EPM Ammonia Charging Hopper
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MRC Slurry Explosive Manufacturing Module
Slurry Mixer
Mining Explosive Product
Incorporates 20 of a low value energetic
material into a commercial Ammonium
Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) mining
explosive
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MRC Slurry Explosive Manufacturing Module
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ANMC Building 65 Slurry Explosive Manufacturing
Planned MRC Slurry Explosive Manufacturing Site
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MRC Hardware Decontamination Module

• Flashing furnace decontaminates missile hardware
  components
• Decontaminates non-combustible metal to 5X
  cleanliness
• Limited to 5 pounds of net explosive weight (NEW)

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MRC Material Handling and Shredding Equipment
Module

• Provides for material transport and shredding of
  inert missile components

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MRC STATUS AT THE ANMC

• Installation of the following modules at the
  ANMC was completed 30 September 02
• - Missile Disassembly Workstations (QTY3)
  - Warhead Billet Splitting Machines (QTY 4)
• - Launch Motor Denozzling Machines (QTY4) -
  Squib Removal Machines (QTY
  4)
• - Flight Motor Denozzling Machines (QTY4)
  - Igniter Assembly Removal Machines (QTY 4)
• - Warhead Billet Removal Machines (QTY 4)
• Installation of the remaining MRC modules will
  occur during FY 04-05
• - Vertical Milling Machine
  (QTY 2) - Hardware Decontamination Module
  (QTY1)
• - Energetics Size Reduction Machines (QTY 2)
  - Energetics Processing Module (QTY
  1)
• - Slurry Explosive Manufacturing
  (QTY 1)
• During this current LRIP phase, 5,000 TOW
  missiles are scheduled to be processed by 30 SEP
  03

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Thank you for the opportunity to tell you about
our team capabilities
US Army Aviation and Missile Command Research,
Development, and Engineering Center Redstone
Arsenal POC Dr. William Melvin Technical
Program Manager for R3 Technologies Phone DSN
746-4096 E-mail william.melvin_at_rdec.redstone.ar
my.mil
500 Wynn Drive, Bldg 300, Suite 314 Huntsville,
AL 35816 POC Wesley Thompson
Director of
Engineering Services Phone [phone] E-mail
wesley.thompson_at_rdec.redstone.army.mil