Tanner Research, Inc. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: MDA14-022

Description

"The evolution in safe and arm (S&A) devices to in-line electronic S&A and Arm-Fire devices (ESAD/EAFD) have not tracked closely with the incredible cost- and size-reductions made by electronics. Large electro-mechanical S&A devices used in rocket motor ignition systems have become one of the notable cost elements on current missile systems. Developing and delivering smaller, in-line, electronic S&A devices can greatly improve system reliability and cost, and reduce SWAP for both legacy and forth-coming missile systems. Tanner Research in conjunction with Teledyne ESP, and supported by OrbitalATK, proposes to miniaturize a redundant electronic Arm-Fire device (i.e., reducing size to less than 3-in) as a paradigm for creating cost-effective initiation devices for ANY ordnance or energetic application. The team plans to leverage their reliable TRL-7 EAFD/TBI architecture previously developed with insensitive EFI detonators specifically crafted for initiating and igniting insensitive energetics. At the completion of the Phase II, this high voltage in-line ESAD/EAFD will have reliable redundancy, built-in test (BIT) functionality with telemetry capability, and will be packaged as a through-bulkhead initiator in ~3-in."