応用機械工学ジャーナル

概要

Design of a Cost-effective Precision Guided Bomb

Abubakar Imam

The denial of developed nations to Technology Transfer (TT) to the developing countries and the refusal of some weapons-manufacturing countries to sell the required military platforms to developing countries faced with combatting insurgency and terrorism brought the importance of evolving HGC in defence production through reverse engineering. Thus, this study presents the design of a PGB through reverse engineering. The development of the PGB followed a four-part methodology, namely, establishing the design approach, selection of materials and design of a new energetic explosive material. The study employed a conceptual design approach involving an iterative design process requiring numerous design iterations to balance the system's various input/output requirements. The performance of the PGB was evaluated based on its suitability of attack strategy (blast frag etc.), delivery method, collateral damage and cost. The following described the engagement endgame of the PGB: if the warhead detonates in the vicinity of the target, it will damage the target. However, there was no certainty that the PGB would annihilate the target. Actual damage can only be ascertained in terms of Probability of Kill (Pk), which is a likelihood that the target will be incapacitated. Pk depends on the shock wave/fragments and the proximity of the warhead to the target.