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Fire Control Unit FCU 40mm HV from Rheinmetall Defence in operation (left): the distance is measured by means of the laser
range-finder, other sensors measure the relevant influence factors like air pressure, temperature, target line angle and canting.
These values and the known ballistics are used to compute and automatically set the angle of elevation. The gunner therefore always
has the target at the center of the angle of view. Night mission: The new fire control unit is also available as a smaller and
lighter unit (as a fire control visor) – and is particularly well suited for hand-held weapons and shoulder-fired anti-tank weapons.
Fire control technology from Rheinmetall Propellants unit
Enhancing the efficiency of ABM
Stockach. Advanced ammunition concepts
– like the new 40mm air burst ammunition
(ABM) for the grenade launcher
of RWM Schweiz AG – need equally
advanced technologies to fire the ammunition
as efficiently as possible. Situated
near Lake Constance in South Germany,
Stockach-based Oerlikon Contraves
GmbH (OCD) has set new standards
in fire control technology, ideally
complementing ABM systems to further
enhance the efficiency of ammunition
concepts. This has been rendered possible
by modern fire control systems of
the type FCU 40mm HV (High Velocity),
allowing the projectile to be programmed
with innovative technologies
and hence permitting the optimized deployment
of high-tech ammunition.
Gerhard Wieland, head of mechanical
and electrical design and responsible
for fire control units at Oerlikon Contraves
GmbH: “Fire control is an essential
prerequisite to program ABM ammunition.
The destruction of the projectile
at a defined distance means that
targets located inside or behind protective
covers can be engaged, e.g. in
trenches or behind walls.”
According to 50 year-old Wieland
from Höri, a peninsula at the western
end of Lake Constance, this is one of
the main advantages of the combination
of modern ABM ammunition with
advanced fire control systems. Furthermore,
the fire control unit FCU 40mm
HV offers superior hit accuracies in
daylight and higher hit rates at night.
Distances are measured by laser
range-finding, sensors measure the
other relevant influence factors – air
pressure, temperature, target line angle
and canting. Commenting on the
basic concept, Wieland points out:
“These values and the known ballistics
are used to compute and automatically
set the angle of elevation. The gunner
therefore always has the target at the
center of the angle of view.” The other
sensors like the laser or terrain angle
sensor are likewise orientated precisely
to the target. “This allows a direct
target change from one target to the
next and quick engagement. Most competing
products have to be restored to
the neutral position when a new target
is chosen.”
The flight time calculated by the fire
control system is inductively sent to the
projectile via a coil – contrary to conventional
products where the values
are radio-transmitted after the projectile
has left the barrel. Says Wieland:
“Our fire control units don’t need a radio
link which is easily jammed.”
OPI award for
two years running
Hiroshima/Neckarsulm. For the
first time ever, the Japanese facility
KS Kolbenschmidt K.K. has succeeded
in winning the OPI award for two
years running — in 2005 and 2006.
In fact, this represents an outstanding
achievement since the location
has once again managed to top its
excellent year-earlier performances.
It was only in 2003 that KS Kolbenschmidt
took over from Mazda Motor
Corporation the piston production of
10
Influence factors which should not be
underrated are the air pressure and air
temperature as they change the air
density and also aerodynamic drag. An
exact measurement of the target parameters
is therefore crucial. The laser
range-finder measures the target range
with an accuracy of ± 2 meters. Wieland
explains why this accuracy is so important:
“At a target range of 1000 meters,
an air pressure reduction of only 100
hPa – corresponding to a terrain elevation
of 1000 meters – increases the firing
distance by 15 meters; a temperature
increase of 25 degrees causes a
similar deviation.” This means that
OCD’s modern fire control systems
which are capable of exactly determining
and using the target parameters are
extremely well suited for use in conjunction
with ABM ammunition, and
are – in this combination – therefore
particularly appropriate for existing
tactical scenarios.
Microtechno Corporation, Hiroshima,
Japan. The acquiree had since 1972
been manufacturing pistons and other
precision parts for the automotive
and further sectors of industry.
At the time of takeover, sales
added up to around € 20 million and
the workforce totaled 120. Today,
around 220 employees generate
sales just short of € 38 million
(2006) with the production of pistons
for auto engines, light- and
medium-duty commercial vehicle engines
as well as assemblies and
built-in engines for Hino Motors,
Subaru, Mazda, Shibaura, and Iseki.