The Global Leader in Reliable Energetic Solutions

Overview

Warhead performance is only as good as the precision of the components that go into the design. EBA&D has designed, developed, and produced a wide range of explosive and pyrotechnic products used for these applications. Precise timing is a critical performance function, as is location and promptness of warhead initiation. Explosive components are a part of the initiation train, and a unique expertise of EBA&D.

In addition to our component expertise, EBA&D has performed as a prime contractor for warheads, and maintains strong technical and operational expertise and the necessary program management skills to perform this role on new and existing warhead programs.

Application

Typically, warhead components are designed for a specific warhead and application. EBA&D maintains an wide variety of pedigreed products and capabilities on which to base future warhead designs.

Explosive Materials and Bulk Charges—EBA&D maintains a broad capability in the manufacture of explosive and energetic materials, including the production of IM compliant materials, thermobaric materials, and plastic bonded explosives. In addition, EBA&D's core competency in handling and pressing explosive powders makes us a perfect supplier of explosive booster components. Capability exists for pressed charge manufacture, cast-cure explosives, melt-pour explosives, and extrudable plastic bonded explosive (PBX) products.

Multi-point initiators—Precise initiation of a warhead is critical to optimizing performance. By using explosive booster plates, near-simultaneity is guaranteed in those applications where the simultaneous (or precisely timed) initiation of a warhead in multiple points is required. One example of this is radially fragmenting warheads where precise initiation around a cylindrical charge is critical. EBA&D is uniquely qualified to manufacture these components using our injectable cast-cure explosive, PBXN-301.

Warhead Sequencing—In applications requiring tandem or multiple warheads (such as "bunker busting"), precise and robust explosive components are used to achieve the required initiation delay. EBA&D has designed, developed, and manufactured a number of components for this application. In areas where a longer delay is required, pyrotechnic components can be utilized, incorporating mechanical retention & locking features to achieve safe/arm functionality.

Warhead Assembly—Modern warhead designs require precise and accurate integration of a wide variety of critical components. With EBA&D's extensive pedigree in warhead components, understanding and knowledge of the handling of large explosive components, and experience as a warhead prime contractor, we are uniquely qualified to serve as a warhead integrator on new and future programs.

Design Considerations

Precision is the key word in the design and manufacture of warheads and their critical components. Minute gaps, imperfections, and inadequate initiation impulses can render the best-designed warhead ineffective. EBA&D's extensive design experience for this application makes us uniquely qualified to support warhead programs.

In order to meet emerging insensitive munition requirements, the use of highly insensitive, secondary explosive products is required for most warhead applications. EBA&D has experience working with such materials, utilizing such explosives as HNS, PBXN-5, PBXN-9, PBXN-10, PBXN-109, and others.

In today's defense environment, precision lethality is required using cost effective solutions. Understanding the cost effective manufacture and integration of warheads and components is critical to achieving programmatic success. EBA&D's breadth of capability in explosive component and system design, manufacture, handling, and logistics make us well qualified to support warhead programs.